(Box Score) (Box Score 2)
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. ( Oct. 11, 2023) – Despite a disappointing 3-2 loss to the University of Main at Fort Kent Bengals, Florida National University’s women’s volleyball team put up a solid performance in two matches at Keiser University. FNU defeated the Bengals 3-0 in game one but fell in straight sets to Keiser to close out their afternoon on the beach.
In game one, Florida National got off to a solid start, taking the first set 25-15. Libero Juliana Santos picked up three straight service aces in the frame and Elis Cordova-Millet delivered six kills. UMFK was held to just 10 kills and had similar offensive struggles in the second.
The second set was a 25-22 victory for the Conquistadors, thanks in part to a 14-10 FNU lead midway through after a kill from Sofia Moreno Bendala. The Bengals made things interesting toward the end of the game, cutting FNU’s lead to 23-22 and forcing a Conquistador timeout. Kills from Brianna Grabowski and Cortez were just enough to signal the end of the frame.
In the third, the Bengals put their best foot forward and tied the set 14-14 on a kill from Genesis Wright. A kill from Kalyse Whitehead made it 24-24 and it took two kills from Gabriela Gonzalez assisted by Taysha Ortega to end the game.
Game two was a bit of a change of pace for Florida National. The Keiser Seahawks scored the first 18 points of the game, including four service aces. FNU finally broke through on a kill from Grabowski assisted by Sandoval to make it 18-1. FNU had just three kills in the first and fell 25-4. In the second frame, FNU did put up 11 kills but still fell short of the mark 25-15. The Conquistadors struggled to find their rhythm and picked up eight errors while the Seahawks committed just one in the set.
Keiser secured their second win for the afternoon and closed out the third set 25-12. Cortez had three kills in the third while Isabella Armas had four assists. Cortez was held to just 10 kills in the loss and four Conquistadors recorded seven kills. (Taylor Purdy, Sandoval, Santos and Cortez)
Up Next: The Conquistadors return home Oct. 13 for a 7 p.m. match against Sun Conference standout Florida Memorial.
