BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Florida Atlantic University volleyball team (13-10, 5-5 AAC) bounced back in a big way on Saturday as the Owls earned their first-ever AAC sweep, defeating the UAB Blazers (3-20, 1-10 AAC) 3-0 at Bartow Arena.
FLORIDA ATLANTIC 3 – UAB 0
Arianna Beckham and Valeria Rosado led the Owls offensively in the match. Beckham tallied a match-best 16 kills, while Rosado also scored double-figures with 12 kills in the win. Victoria Hensley turned in her third double-double of the season with 37 assists and a team-best 12 digs.
The Owls quickly jumped out to a 9-6 lead to open the match, but the Blazers responded on a 3-0 run to even things up at nine. The Owls retook the lead to maintain a 12-11 advantage, however, the Blazers scored seven unanswered to take an 18-12 lead. Florida Atlantic battled back to close the gap as they closed the set on a 13-5 run to capture the opening frame 25-23 and take the opening 1-0 lead.
Florida Atlantic really set the tone in the second set. The set opened to a 6-4 Owls lead after a kill from Lauryn Green, but that was as close as things got. The Owls went on a 10-5 run to hold a 16-9 advantage before a 5-0 Florida Atlantic run quickly put the Owls up by more than double-figures at 21-9. The Owls then put things away, matching the Blazers point for point, 4-4, to close out the set at 25-13 and take the two-set advantage, 2-0.
The two teams battled to a 3-3 stalemate to open the third. The Owls then went on a 7-3 run to hold a 10-6 advantage before UAB responded with three of their own to cut the set back within a point, 10-9. The two squads continued to battle as the Owls held a 21-19 lead late in the set, but Florida Atlantic scored four unanswered to close out the match, securing the sweep with a 25-19 win in the third.
UP NEXT
The Owls return home next weekend as they welcome the Wichita State Shockers on Friday, Oct. 27 for a 6 p.m. first serve inside Eleanor R. Baldwin Arena.
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