No. 3 seed ECU (18-9, 11-6 AAC) has had their way with No. 6 seed FAU this season; winning 6-1 in all sets played. Florida Atlantic looked to turn the tide between the two squads this season in the AAC Championship Quarterfinals. In a thrilling match to open the conference tournament, the Owls got the best of the Pirates in a five set classic.
Set one was a back and forth contest from start to finish. It was an 8-8 tie early, before Florida Atlantic pulled away taking a close 13-11 lead. ECU responded by working the set back to a tie and then an eventual at 15-14 Pirates. A Kaila Ru (pictured above, right, Evert Nelson and The American) kill capped off a 4-1 run to bring the set back in favor of the Owls, 18-16. FAU then extended their lead to three, 21-18. East Carolina, thanks to a 3-0 run, evened the set again at 21 as the Owls called a timeout. Florida Atlantic closed the set on a 4-1 run to earn the victory 25-22.
Similar to set one, set two opened close with a 9-9 tie. ECU took a 13-9 advantage thanks to a four-point run as FAU called a timeout in hopes of slowing the Pirates attack. East Carolina then extended their lead to five at 16-11, forcing coach Fernanda Nelson to use another Owls timeout. The Pirates lead held strong as ECU’s advantage held at four, 20-14. Florida Atlantic immediately responded to cut the East Carolina advantage down to three thanks to a three-point run, 20-17 Pirates. FAU turned the set on its head taking the lead at 23-21 thanks to a 6-0 run capped off by a Romina Cornelio (pictured below, Evert Nelson and The American) service ace. The Pirates responded evening the set at 23. The squads were then in search of a two-point advantage as the teams reached a 25-25 tie. ECU took the two-point advantage to win the set 27-25.
Florida Atlantic took control early in the third set, 8-4 Owls. ECU responded, a 6-1 run gave the Pirates a 10-9 lead, once again forcing an early FAU timeout. East Carolina then extended their lead to four, 14-10. The Pirates kept pouring it on continuing to own the set, 18-11. Florida Atlantic cut the ECU lead down to two thanks to a 5-0 run finished off by a Valeria Rosado service ace, 18-16. The run continued with the advantage only being one for the Pirates, 18-17. Unlike the second set, East Carolina took control of the set again taking a 22-17 advantage. ECU’s lead held as the Pirates took the set 25-21.
With the season on the line, the Owls responded in the fourth set. FAU grabbed a 6-2 lead early. After trading points, Florida Atlantic went on a four-point run taking an 11-4 lead. ECU responded to bring the set within five, 11-6. The Owls then went on another run. This time it was a three-point run, taking a 14-6 lead forcing an ECU timeout. FAU was unstoppable. Florida Atlantic went on 5-0 run taking a double-digit lead, 20-8. The Owls closed the set in control, winning 25-12. The match was even at 2-2.
The season came down to a fifth set for the squads. ECU took an early 3-1 lead before Florida Atlantic evened the set at three. Thanks to a 3-0 run, FAU took a 6-4 lead. The Pirates evened the set again at six as neither team could pull away. At the side change it was 8-6 Owls. Florida Atlantic then gained their largest lead of the set at 9-6. Florida Atlantic continued their push taking an 11-7 lead; four points shy from advancing to Saturday. The Pirates cut into the deficit, forcing an Owls timeout: 11-9 FAU. The Pirates continued their attack thanks to a 4-0 run taking a 13-12 lead. FAU scored two straight to reach match point, but East Carolina evened the set, 14-14. The Owls then did the unthinkable, scoring two straight with the final point coming off a Madison Dyer block to win the set 16-14. Earning the 3-2 victory and pulling off the upset over ECU.
Below is the celebration from the Owls victory:
Rosado put Florida Atlantic on her back. She led the Owls in kills with her total of 26, a career high, and picked up 16 digs to secure a double-double. As a squad, FAU earned 62 kills. Isabelle Northam led FAU in digs with her total of 20 as Florida Atlantic picked up 71. Dyer earned five blocks leading the Owls to nine on the afternoon. Victoria Hensley tied her season high in AAC match-ups with her 54 assists as well.
Florida Atlantic (17-12, 9-8 AAC) will face off against the Rice (19-7, 14-3 AAC) in a battle of the Owls. Earlier this season FAU swept Rice at the Elly, but today showed that the tournament is not concerned about the past. Since that last time the two squads faced off, Rice is 8-1.The winner will advance to the conference championship match. The contest between FAU and either North Texas or Rice will be on Saturday, Nov 23, at 12 pm.
