After facing off ten days ago, the Owls traveled to South Florida (13-9, 9-2 AAC) in hopes of earning the season sweep. In the previous match between the two Florida Atlantic dominated, upsetting the Bulls 3-1. This time around though, USF got the better of FAU, earning the final three sets in a 3-1 victory.
The Owls had a great start in the first set. FAU was able to gain a 13-10 lead over the Bulls. At the media timeout Florida Atlantic was ahead 15-11. A Katelynn Robine service ace brought the lead to five for the Owls at 18-13 as USF needed a timeout to slow down the FAU run. USF fought back and evened the match at 22. The squads surpassed the 25-point mark with Madison Dyer giving the Owls the set-point at 27-26 before a Bulls attack error led to FAU taking the first set 28-26.
Set two began with an early Florida Atlantic lead with Robine earning a kill to give the Owls a 6-3. South Florida responded with a timeout. It was a wise decision for the Bulls who took a 12-9 lead with the help of five-point run before FAU called their first timeout of the night. After finding themselves down by four, Florida Atlantic used a three-point run to bring the set within one, 16-15 USF. The Bulls controlled the rest of the set with FAU falling 25-18.
Tied 1-1, the squads worked their way to a 8-8 tie early in the third set. The Bulls took a four-point lead forcing the Owls to call a timeout: 13-9. FAU brought the set within two after a three-point run capped off by another Valeria Rosado (pictured above, Angelina LaBelle) kill, 17-15 South Florida. The Owls could not bring the set any closer as USF was able to hold on to win the set 25-19.
Ahead 2-1 in the match, the Bulls were ahead 10-6 early. The lead did not change as FAU called a timeout trying to find an answer down four, 13-9. USF extended their advantage taking a 19-12 lead over Florida Atlantic. The fight from the Owls was no match for the Bulls as USF won the fourth set 25-18. South Florida won the match 3-1.
The Bulls and Owls split the season series with both teams finding 3-1 victories on their home courts. Robine had 14 kills leading the Owls to their 48 kills mark. Victoria Hensley (pictured above, Angelina LaBelle) garnered 32 assists as she led FAU with their total of 42. Isabelle Northam earned 17 digs, and Kaila Ru achieved six blocks on the evening with the Owls earning nine.
After the three match road trip, Florida Atlantic (13-10, 5-6 AAC) hosts Temple (11-13, 3-7 AAC) in Paradise. The first time the two squads met, Temple earned a dominant straight-sweep victory over FAU. Temple will spend the weekend in Florida, heading to Tampa to face-off against South Florida before coming to Boca Raton. The battle of the Owls starts at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 3.