MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (October 7, 2020) – Holding a 14-13 edge in the fifth and final set, the Florida National Conquistadors (2-6) were unable to fend off a 5-2 run by the St. Thomas Bobcats (6-3), dropping a hard-fought 3-2 (25-22, 25-22, 22-25, 23-25, 18-16) decision on Wednesday evening from the Fernandez Family Center.
After falling behind, 2-0 (25-22, 25-22), FNU battled back to tie the match, 2-2, taking set three, 25-22, and set four, 25-23. Despite falling behind early in the match, Florida National came out swinging in set No. 3, jumping out to a 5-1 lead and never looking back to cut STU’s lead to 2-1. The Conquistadors used the momentum gained in the third set to take set No. 4, 25-23. FNU once again took an early lead in the set and never relinquished it.
Set No. 5 was “neck and neck” between the two sides with seven ties and six lead changes. However, the Bobcats took the final lead of the match to fend off FNU, 18-16, and to take the match, 3-2.
Leading the Conquistadors was Joanne Dania, who registered a match-high 24 kills while hitting .224 (11 errors, 58 total attacks). The junior outside hitter also collected 19 digs to notch one of three double-doubles for FNU. Ariana Long also recorded a double-double in the match, posting 18 kills and 16 digs. Joining Dania and Long in the “double-double club” versus the Bobcats was Gabriela Hernandez, who led FNU with 33 assists to go along with 15 digs. Leading the team in digs was Carolina Arrais Dantas, who tallied a contest-best 27 on Wednesday.
FNU finished the match with 57 kills and a hitting percentage of .147. STU notched 61 kills while hitting .220 in the contest. The Conquistadors held a 97-83 advantage in total digs.
Florida National will next face Johnson (Fla.) on Wednesday, October 14, in Kissimmee, Florida.
About FNU: Florida National University opened its first class on January 4th, 1988, in the city of Hialeah, Florida, as Florida International Institute under the administration of Dr. José Regueiro, Dr. María C. Regueiro and Mr. Omar Sánchez. FNU Athletic Department has more than 250 student-athletes in 11 different sports. Established in 2013, FNU Athletics is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA).
The mission of the Florida National University Athletic Department is to provide assistance within an athletic structure that promotes the development of a well rounded education through structured sport and competition, to develop life skills of discipline, integrity, leadership, philanthropy and social responsibility, to elevate ethnic and cultural diversity within the athletic programs, to assure equitable opportunity for all staff and student-athletes, and to make the athletic program a durable source of pride for the student population, student-athletes, alumni, university, and community of FNU.
