(Box Score) (Box Score 2)
BROOKLINE, Mass. ( Oct. 6, 2023) – Florida National University’s women’s volleyball team picked up two crucial wins at the Continental Athletic Conference’s (CAC) Classic hosted by Fisher College. The Conquistadors executed a 3-1 win over the Crowley’s Ridge College Pioneers and ended the evening with a 3-0 win against Fisher.
In game one, FNU got off to a hot start, taking set one 25-21. The Pioneers were held to just eight kills in the opener while FNU had 14. Layla Cortez was stellar with six kills and Brianna Grabowski got two kills of her own. Set two was uncharacteristically tough for the Conquistadors. CRC had 16 kills in their 25-18 win despite Gabriela Gonzalez putting up three kills in the frame. Through two sets, FNU had 15 errors while CRC kept their attack relatively clean with seven.
Through the next two games, FNU put on a master class to close out their opponents 25-20 and 25-18. With a .414% in the third, the Conquistadors got the win, putting up 14 kills and behind a huge performance from Cortez with six kills. Sofia Moreno Bendala landed a kill and a service ace to end the set in favor of the Conquistadors. In the fourth, FNU went on an 8-3 run to close out the match. Taylor Purdy was all over the court with 24 digs and Juliana Santos earned 13. Cortez led the way with 20 kills while Grabowski and Elis Cordova-Millet tallied seven apiece.
Game two was a clean sweep for FNU over host Fisher College. The Conquistadors cruised to a 1-0 lead after outscoring the Falcons 25-17. FNU had 11 kills and errors in the opener. Five of those kills belonged to Cortez and FNU went on a 7-2 run to close out the set.
It was more of the same in the second for the Conquistadors. Cordova-Millet had three kills in the Conquistadors’ 25-18 win, all of which were assisted by Ivette Sandoval. Fisher recorded nine kills and six errors in the second and FNU led the way with 14. Purdy had another strong performance with 21 digs in three sets played. Moreno Bendala and Leila Alves had one block a piece and Sandoval put up 22 assists.
Up Next: Florida National has three more CAC head-to-head battles Oct. 7 to close out its time at the CAC Classic.
