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Florida National University

Scoreboard

Gabriela Gonzalez at CAC Championship
3
Winner Florida National (FL) FLORIDA 1-0
0
Life LIFE 0-1
Winner
Florida National (FL) FLORIDA
1-0
3
Final
0
Life LIFE
0-1
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 F
Florida National (FL) FLORIDA 25 25 27 (3)
Life LIFE 20 18 25 (0)
0
Oakwood Univ. OAKWOODA 0-2
3
Winner Florida National FNU 2-0
Oakwood Univ. OAKWOODA
0-2
0
Final
3
Florida National FNU
2-0
Winner
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 F
Oakwood Univ. OAKWOODA 14 16 19 (0)
Florida National FNU 25 25 25 (3)

Game Recap: Women's Volleyball | | Brenda Bogle

FNU soars in Running Eagle Classic and starts 2024 season 2-0

MARIETTA, Ga. (Aug. 23, 2024) - Florida National put the NAIA on notice with impressive wins over Life and Oakwood University to open the 2024 season. The Conquistadors combined for 71 kills and 100 digs to end day one of the Running Eagle Classic with a 25-20, 25-18, 27-25 victory over Life and a 24-14, 25-16, 25-19 rout of the Ambassadors.

The first contest of the morning featured a tough and resilient FNU squad. Life led 17-16 before FNU produced four unanswered points and forced a timeout from the tournament host. This was just enough of a cushion to help FNU win the opener 25-20. Layla Cortez collected three kills and returner Ariana Long followed closely behind with two.

Gabriela Gonzalez started the second set on fire with two kills to put FNU ahead 6-5. Sofia Moreno Bendala also found her flow on the court, knocking down four kills as FNU cruised to a 25-18 win in the set. The Eagles struggled through the first couple of games, posting a -.214 and .111 hitting percentage heading into the third. 

Life had 13 kills to FNU's 10 in the third but missed a tightly-contested final frame thanks to 11 errors. Destiny Drakeford kept her team alive with a much-needed score to tie it 25-25 late in the game but kills by Long and Cortez shut the door on the Eagles to claim the set 27-25. Long and Moreno Bendala had six kills each, while Cortez had a game-high 11 kills. Long was impressive defensively with 13 digs and two solo blocks. 

Game two saw FNU take an early 9-3 lead over Oakwood in the opening set after an earth-shattering kill by Cortez. The Ambassadors struggled to get their rhythm as they committed five attack errors in the frame. Three different Oakwood players collected service errors before the Conquistadors closed the set with a kill from Kitula Amaya Morales on an assist by freshman Emily Robello.

Oakwood found some breathing room in the second after back-to-back attack errors from Moreno Bendala helped put the Ambassadors ahead 4-0. Oakwood continued to pour it on with an 8-2 advantage following a kill from Anaya Williams. But FNU answered the call, taking a 10-9 lead off two kills by Elis Cordova-Millet off perfect sets from Robello. FNU outscored Oakwood 23-8 down the stretch of the frame and took a commanding 2-0 lead.

FNU faced a more competitive third set, with both teams trading points en route to a 15-15 scoreline. Thanks to Robello's two service aces and kills from Daviona Bernard, FNU began to pull away with a 19-15 advantage. Oakwood's offense seemed stagnant, as the Ambassadors recorded a .111 hitting percentage. FNU ended the match thanks to OU's seventh service error of the game and third service blunder from Mona Okello. 

Up Next: FNU exits Georgia with two games opposite Life and Middle Georgia State University tomorrow starting at 1 p.m.

 
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