BOCA RATON, Fla. – The Florida Atlantic Owls (13-10, 5-5 AAC) return home this weekend to kick off a four-game home stretch as they welcome the Wichita State Shockers (15-5, 9-1 AAC) on Friday, Oct. 27 and UTSA (11-11, 4-7 AAC) on Sunday, Oct. 29. Both matches will be broadcast on ESPN+.
| Florida Atlantic (13-10, 5-5 AAC) vs. Wichita State (15-5, 9-1 AAC) & UTSA (11-11, 4-7 AAC) | |
| Matchup Details | Boca Raton, Fla. | Eleanor R. Baldwin Arena |
| Game Coverage | Wichita State Friday, Oct. 27 | 6 p.m. ET | Live Stats | ESPN+ UTSA Saturday, Oct. 29 | 1 p.m. ET | Live Stats | ESPN+ |
| Florida Atlantic Links | Roster | Schedule | Stats |
| Wichita State Links | Roster | Schedule | Stats |
| UTSA Links | Roster | Schedule | Stats |
| Social Media | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook |
SCOUTING FLORIDA ATLANTIC
- The Owls enter this weekend’s matches at 13-10 on the season and 5-5 in AAC play. Florida Atlantic is just coming off a 1-1 weekend against the UAB Blazers, falling in a four-set battle in their series opener, before picking up a dominant 3-0 sweep to close out the series.
- As a team, the Owls lead the AAC in assists per set (12.87) and kills per set (13.84). The Owls also rank second in the league in total attacks (3,033), kills (1,135), and assists (1,055).
- The Owls offensive leaders are Arianna Beckham, Valeria Rosado, and Katelynn Robine. Beckham is the sole Owl to surpass the 200-kill mark so far this season with 234 kills, averaging 2.89 kills per set. Rosado has tallied a team second-best 165 kills, while ranking third on the team in kills per set, averaging 2.06. Rosado also leads the Owls in double-doubles this season, posting six through 23 matches. Robine has turned in a team third-best 163 kills, while averaging a team second-best 2.26 kills per set this season.
- Victoria Hensley and Noelle Stephens lead the Owls in assists this year and combine to lead the AAC in assists per set. Hensley has dished out a team-best 715 assists, averaging 8.72 assists per set, while Stephens has tallied 215 assists, recording 3.71 assists per set this season.
- Isabelle Northam is the Owls’ back row anchor, leading the team in digs with 347, ranking fourth in the AAC, and averaging 4.23 assists per set, which ranks fifth in the league.
- Kaila Ru and Lauryn Green lead the Owls at the net, recording 56 and 55 blocks this season. Green boasts a team-leading 0.92 blocks per set.
SCOUTING WICHITA STATE
- Wichita State ranks second in the league at 18-4 overall and 9-1 in AAC play.
- The Shockers enter Friday’s contest riding a seven-match winning streak, the longest current winning streak in the league.
- As a team, the Shockers lead the AAC in hitting percentage (.250), while ranking second in winning percentage (.750), and third in blocks per set (2.45), kills per set (13.2), and opponent hitting percentage (.157).
- The Shockers are led offensive by Natalie Foster and Sophia Rohling. Foster has tallied a team-leading 198 kills, averaging 2.68 kills per set, while Rohling boasts a team-leading 2.93 kills per set, and turning in a team second-best 196 kills so far this season.
- Wichita State’s leading setter is Izzi Strand, who has dished out a team-best 747 assists, averaging 10.09 assists per set.
- Gabi Maas is the Shockers’ starting libero and has tallied a team-best 289 digs, averaging 2.91 digs per set.
- Foster and Stout lead the Shockers at the net, recording 81 and 72 blocks, recording 1.09 and 1.00 blocks per set, respectively.
SCOUTING UTSA
- UTSA enter’s this weekend at 11-11 overall and 4-7 versus AAC competition, while riding a three-game winning streak.
- The Roadrunners rank ninth in the league entering this weekend’s matches, sitting just behind the Owls, who rank tied for seventh.
- As a team, the Roadrunners rank second in the AAC in service aces (142) and aces per set (1.82).
- Mia Soerensen is the Roadrunners leading offensive weapon, tallying 247 kills, averaging 3.21 kills per set.
- UTSA’s assists leaders are Makenna Wiepert and Mekaila Aupiu, who have dished out 503 and 250 assists, averaging 7.98 and 6.25 assists per set, respectively.
- Defensively, Aliah Giroux leads the Roadrunners in digs with 343, averaging 4.40 digs per set, while Alicia Coppedge leads UTSA in blocks, turning in 79 blocks, averaging 1.03 blocks per set this season.
SERIES HISTORY
- Friday’s match marks the first-ever meeting between the Owls and the Shockers.
- Sunday’s match against UTSA marks the 11th all-time meeting between Florida Atlantic and UTSA, with the Roadrunners holding a 9-1 series lead. The Roadrunners won the last meeting between the two teams on Sept. 30, 2022 in a five-set battle in San Antonio. The Owls last win over UTSA came in 2019 when the Owls earned a 3-0 sweep over the Roadrunners on Nov. 1 in Boca Raton.
UP NEXT
- The Owls remain at home next weekend as they close out their four-match home stretch with a two-match series against the Memphis Tigers on Friday, Nov. 3 and Saturday, Nov. 4.
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