After taking a 2-0 match advantage FAU could not hold on as UCF scraped by the Owls. The close match was a battle of attrition as Central Florida gained their fifth straight victory of the season to reverse sweep the Owls 3-2.
The Knights jumped out to a 9-5 lead to start set one as Florida Atlantic used a timeout to slow down Central Florida. The Owls responded by capping off a 8-4 scoring run to even the set back at 13. UCF striked back with their own 4-0 run to take the lead back at 16-13.
Coming out of the timeout, Florida Atlantic came ablaze as they went on a 4-0 run capped off by a Katelynn Robine service ace to take the lead 17-16. FAU carried their momentum to a 25-20 victory for set one.
Set two saw UCF using a 6-1 scoring run to take an early 9-5 lead. As the streaks continued the Owls had a 4-0 scoring run of their own to draw the set at nine. The set stayed neck-and-neck until FAU was able to take an 18-17 off of a Madison Dyer kill which led to a UCF timeout. Florida Atlantic stretched the lead to three at 24-20 off a 3-0 run to help win set two 25-21.
With a 2-0 advantage FAU fought to gain their fourth sweep of the season. UCF made it difficult though as the Knights fired off to a 6-3 lead. The Owls used a 4-1 run to even the set a seven. The set stayed even as the match was tied up once again at 11. The first lead of the set for the Owls was a 14-13 advantage. The Owls extended their lead to 16-13 before UCF called a timeout.
Central Florida clawed back to even the set at 19 trying to avoid a sweep and their first loss of the year. The Knights took the lead 20-19 as FAU took a timeout to regroup. Sadly, the sweep could not be completed as the Knights pulled away in set three 25-22.
As the Owls held the advantage in the match 2-1, set four started off well for FAU as they took an early 5-3 lead. The Knights gained the lead at 6-5 as the set became another close competition. The lead seesawed until UCF pulled away to win 25-23.
The deciding set came down to who wanted it more as set five was just like the rest of the match, close. Central Florida went on a 4-0 scoring run to take a 7-4 lead. The Knights stretched their lead to five with a 10-5 advantage. The Knights were able to overcome the Owls winning set five 15-10 and completing a 2-0 comeback. UCF won 3-2.
Florida Atlantic fought hard in the match with Katelynn Robine and Valeria Rosado leading the team with 15 kills each, the Owls had a total of 54. The team had 23 errors compared to the Knights 29. Rosado earned a double double with her team leading 15 digs as the Owls accumulated 66. Finally Kaila Ru was a brick wall with her ten blocks as the team totaled 23 compared to Central Florida’s 19.
Florida Atlantic (5-4) comes back to Boca Raton for the Owl’s Paradise Classic. FAU will take on Illinois State, Mercer, and Stetson. The first match for the Owls will be against Illinois State (3-7). Florida Atlantic and the Redbirds have not met before. This is the final tournament style play of the season for FAU before they start conference play. The match starts at noon on Friday, Sept., 20th.