CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The Owls battled but fell just short in four sets (22-25, 18-25, 25-23, 19-25) against the Miami Hurricanes on Monday evening inside the Knight Complex.
“We played really tough today and we served and passed very well,” expressed head coach Fernanda Nelson. “Defensively, we’re fun to watch. Miami is a very physical team, but we had our chances. We just need to keep growing our offense and get better with the details. We are excited to get back to work.”
FLORIDA ATLANTIC 1 – MIAMI 3
Romina Cornelio led the Owls offensively, scoring 12 kills, and picked up one of the Owls first double-doubles of the season, adding a team-second best 13 digs in the match. Victoria Hensley also registered a double-double in the match, dishing out a team-leading 22 assists, while also recording 10 digs. Katelynn Robine posted a .333 hitting percentage with nine kills and Kaila Ru also posted nine kills on the night.
The Owls battled the Canes to a 4-4 stalemate to open the match, however Miami scored five in a row to take a 9-4 lead. The Owls traded points with the Canes as they battled back to eventually cut into the Miami lead to bring the set back within one at 21-20 after back-to-back Miami errors. A Kaila Ru kill and a Miami attack error brought the Owls back within a point once more at 23-22, but the Canes scored the last two to take the opening set, 25-22.
Florida Atlantic continued to battle the Canes point for point in the second, trailing by just a point at 11-10 after a pair of Miami errors. However, Miami started to break away after a 3-0 run to outscore the Owls 9-3 and hold a 20-13 lead. The Owls cut the Canes lead down to four after another pair of Miami errors, however, the Canes closed the set on a 4-1 run to capture the 25-18 win and take a 2-0 lead.
After two Miami points to open the fourth, the Owls scored four unanswered to quickly take a 4-2 lead. Miami responded with three of their own to retake the lead at 5-4, however a Miami attack error and a Cornelio kill quickly put the Owls back in front, 6-5. The Owls maintained the lead through 14-12, before the Hurricanes would tie things up at 14-14. Back-to-back kills from Cornelio sparked a 7-1 run to quickly break away as the Owls held a 21-15 advantage. The Canes attempted to rally, outscoring the Owls 8-4 over the rest of the fourth set, however the Owls’ lead was too much to overcome as Florida Atlantic captured the set win, 25-23, to force a fourth.
Florida Atlantic opened the fifth on an 8-7 run, to hold the advantage in the fourth after Robine’s second service ace of the match. However, Miami went on a 5-0 run to retake the lead at 12-8. The Canes pushed their lead to five at 15-10, but a trio of Miami errors and kills from Alicia Hearn and Lauryn Green brought the Owls back even at 15-15. Despite evening things up, Miami responded with five points of their own to quickly push the deficit back to five, 20-15. Florida Atlantic got two back to cut the lead to three, 20-17, but another 4-0 Canes run gave Miami match point at 24-17. Kills from Robine and Ru once again brought the Owls back within five at 24-19, however the Canes scored the last kill to close out the set, 25-19, and take the match, 3-1.
UP NEXT
Florida Atlantic will remain on the road this weekend as they travel to Oxford, Ohio to compete in the Miami/Best Western Invitational on Sept. 1 & 2.
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