Oct. 3, 2012
Box Score
BOCA RATON, FL (October 3, 2012) - The Florida Atlantic University volleyball team lost to rival FIU in five sets (25-20, 17-25, 23-25, 25-20, 15-10) on Wednesday night.
The match had a defensive minded tone from the outset as the Owls (4-11, 0-5 Sun Belt) hit .099, while the Panthers (5-13, 2-3) hit just .128. The teams combined for 178 digs (92-86) and 32 total blocks (17-15) with the Panthers held a slight advantage in both categories.
Cintia Nightingale tied her career high with 26 digs, with Thacilli Pereira (17) and Gabriella Pyle (13) also with double-digit digs. On the offensive side, Darija Sataric led the Owls with a career-high 17 kills, while Pereira added 10.
The first set featured six ties, with the final one coming at 16-16. At that point, the Panthers went on a 5-1 run to take a 21-17 lead on their way to a 25-20 win. In the second set, it was FAU's turn to have a run. Blocking provided four points during a 12-3 Owls' run that staked them to a 17-8 lead. The margin grew to as many as 10, with FAU eventually tying the match with a 25-17 win.
In set three, the Owls trailed 21-18 late when Sataric pounded three kills and a block assist as part of a 7-2 rally to take the set 25-23 and put FAU ahead two sets to one. Sara Stoll added a kill and an assist during the rally. The pivotal point in the fourth set came when FAU trailed by just two points at 9-7. The Panthers then took six of the next eight points to gain firm control on the set, eventually winning the set 25-20 to force a fifth set.
The Panthers got out to a fast start, charging out to an 8-0 lead. FAU answered with a surge of its own, cutting the deficit to three on three separate occasions, before the Panthers were able to close out the set and clinch the match.
The Owls continue their three match homestand on Saturday night when they play Louisiana at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are available at www.fausports.com or by calling 1-866-FAU-OWLS.
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