BOCA RATON, Fla. – The Florida Atlantic volleyball team returns to Paradise this week as the Owls prepare to host their Owls Paradise Classic on Friday, Sept. 8 and Saturday, Sept. 9.
The Owls will kick off the weekend on Friday, Sept. 8 against Incarnate Word at 12 p.m. and then close out day one at 7 p.m. against Youngstown State. Florida Atlantic will then host the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats in the Owls Paradise Classic finale on Saturday, Sept. 9 with a 12 p.m. scheduled first serve.
| 2023 Owls Paradise Classic | |
| Matchup Details | Friday, Sept. 8 12 PM & 7 PM & Saturday, Sept. 9 at 12 PM | Eleanor R. Baldwin Arena |
| Game Coverage | Friday, Sept. 8 12 PM | Florida Atlantic vs. Incarnate Word | Live Stats | Live Video 7 PM | Florida Atlantic vs. Youngstown State | Live Stats | Live Video Saturday, Sept. 2 12 PM | Florida Atlantic vs. Bethune-Cookman | Live Stats | Live Video Twitter: @FAUVolleyball |
| Florida Atlantic Links | Roster | Schedule | Stats |
| Bethune-Cookman Links | Roster | Schedule | Stats |
| Incarnate Word Links | Roster | Schedule | Stats |
| Youngstown State Links | Roster | Schedule | Stats |
SCOUTING FAU
- The Owls are 4-3 through their first seven matches of the season and are just coming off a 2-1 weekend at the Miami/Best Western Invitational that saw them earn their second sweep of the season against then unbeaten Cleveland State, 3-0, and win a four-set battle, 3-1, against host Miami (OH).
- Arianna Beckham and Kaila Ru are the Owls offensive leaders so far during the 2023 season, tying for a team-leading 62 kills each through the Owls first seven matches of the season. Ru boasts a team-leading 2.82 kills per set, while Arianna ranks second notching 2.48 kills per set this season. Ru is also the Owls leading blocker, recording 23 blocks, averaging 1.05 per set, and notching a team-best seven solo blocks.
- The Owls assists leaders are Victoria Hensley and Noelle Stephens with 186 and 108 assists, respectively. Hensley has produced a team-leading 7.15 assists per set this season.
- Isabelle Northam is the Owls’ backline anchor in 2023, recording 129 digs and tallying a team-leading 4.96 digs per set.
SCOUTING BETHUNE-COOKMAN
- Bethune-Cookman is 0-6 to start the season. The Wildcats are just coming off the Pirate Invitational which saw them fall in three sweeps against Appalachian State, East Carolina, and Campbell.
- Offensively, the Wildcats are led by Jasmine Moore with a team-leading 27 kills, averaging 1.69 per set.
- Bethune-Cookman splits setting duties between Madison Coates, Alisha Callender, and Janleen De Jesus, averaging 2.61, 3.56, and 2.17, respectively.
- Defensively, Essence Bell leads the Wildcats with 28 digs and averaging 4.67 digs per set. Niara Hightower is the Wildcats’ biggest net defender, notching 19 blocks, averaging 1.13 per set this season.
SCOUTING INCARNATE WORD
- Incarnate Word is 5-1 so far in 2023 and went 2-1 at the UTA Classic this past weekend, picking up wins against Presbyterian College, 3-0, and LA Tech, 3-1.
- The Cardinals offensive leader is Allison Palmi, who has tallied 77 kills this season, averaging 3.67 per set.
- Incarnate Word runs its offense through a pair of setters in Natalie Kimmel and Anuhea Faitau, who have recorded 124 and 118 assists, respectively, averaging 5.90 per set.
- Audrey Patton anchors the Cardinals backline, averaging 4.25 digs per set, while Kade Thomas and Annamarie Alvarez defend the net for Incarnate Word, averaging 0.95 and 0.81 blocks per set, respectively.
SCOUTING YOUNGSTOWN STATE
- Youngstown State enters the Owls Paradise Classic at 3-3 overall and are just coming off a 2-1 weekend at the Toledo Invitational that saw the Penguins earn a four-set victory over host Toledo, 3-1, and a five-set win against Memphis, 3-2.
- Jazmin Vergara is the Penguins leading attacker, recording 67 kills and averaging 3.72 per set in 2023.
- Josi Borum is Youngstown State’s assists leader, averaging 5.75 assists, while also ranking second on the team in kills and kills per set, tallying 52 and averaging 2.17 kills per set. Borum has recorded two triple-doubles this season with 23 assists, 13 kills, and 11 digs against Saint Francis (PA) and 23 assists, 16 kills, and 12 digs at Toledo.
- Isidora Sisic leads the Penguins backline, averaging 5.20 digs per set this season, while Julia Sell and Dayan Malave are Youngstown State’s leading net defenders with 1.08 and 0.88 blocks per set this season.
UP NEXT
- The Owls will close out their non-conference slate next weekend as the Owls head to Fort Meyers, Florida to compete in the FGCU Classic on Sept. 15-16.
FOLLOW THE OWLS
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