HIALEAH, Fla. ( Sept. 22, 2023) – In a film many Florida National University volleyball fans have seen before, the Conquistadors fell 3-1 to the Florida College Falcons despite putting up an excellent second set. The Falcons (7-8) remain undefeated in Continental Athletic Conference (CAC) play while FNU (1-5) drops to 0-2.
Florida National was behind the eight ball early, dropping the opening set 25-16 to FC. The Conquistadors went up 2-0 thanks to a couple of bad sets from the Falcons. Elis Cordova-Millet picked up two kills in the set, but FC tied it 10-10 and went on to outscore FNU 15-6 to take a 1-0 lead.
In the second, Layla Cortez came alive for six kills as the Conquistadors pulled away with a 25-23 victory to tie up the match. The Falcons kept it close, cutting FNU’s lead to 23-22 before the Conquistadors were able to close it out with two kills from Gabriela Gonzalez and Elis Cordova-Millet. But much like the Falcons’ victory the previous night, FC came out strong in the third, taking a commanding 17-9 lead about midway through the frame. FNU was held to just nine kills and recorded seven errors. Cortez had three kills before FNU looked to regroup in the fourth.
Unfortunately for the Conquistadors, FC closed out the game with a 25-16 set victory that included 16 kills. FNU had one of its least productive sets of the afternoon with just five kills. Juliana Santos recorded a team-high 18 digs in four sets of play. Cortez had 15 kills and three digs while Olga Mendez had three service aces.
Up Next: Ave Maria University hosts the Conquistadors Sept. 28 at 8 p.m.
