HIALEAH, Fla. ( Nov. 4, 2023) – Florida National University’s women’s volleyball team (6-12) enters the postseason with a bittersweet taste in their mouth after falling 3-0 to the Ave Maria University Gyrenes (11-17) on Sunday. FNU had fallen earlier in the season to the Gyrenes in Ave Maria, Fla., in a decisive 3-0 contest on Sept. 28.
In the opening set, the Gyrenes took a 1-0 lead after winning the set 25-19. FNU played this game without their star setter Ivette Sandoval, who suffered an ankle injury in the Conquistadors’ 3-0 loss to Webber on Nov. 3. FNU was evenly matched with AMU, with each team putting up 14 kills. FNU’s seven errors, however, did not help matters as a kill from Anna Howard ended the set in favor of AMU.
In the second frame, Layla Cortez had six kills in the frame and picked a couple of electric blocks up at the net during the frame. Taysha Ortega had 11 assists but AMU’s outside hitters got some much-needed kills to take the set and gain a 25-20 and 2-0 advantage. The third and final set of this Sunday afternoon thriller was a 25-22 win for the Gyrenes. The Conquistadors were held to just 10 kills in the set.
Cortez had a team-high 15 kills and libero Taylor Purdy racked up a team-high 20 digs in the loss.
Up Next: The Conquistadors travel to Temple Terrace, Fla., for the CAC Tournament hosted by the Florida College Falcons.
