WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (Aug. 15, 2025) — Florida National (0-2) delivered hard-fought losses against Indiana University East (2-0) and Spring Arbor University (2-0) at the Palm Beach Juniors Classic hosted by Keiser University. The Conquistadors made the quick trip north to West Palm Beach, Fla., to open the 2025 season, falling in straight sets to the Red Wolves and the Cougars.

In game one, FNU took a commanding 4-0 lead to open the match after back-to-back attacking errors from IUEAST's Noema Philistin-Lynch and Riley Crabtree. The Red Wolves went on a quick run, taking a 5-4 lead on a kill by Amyra Lockett. FNU was unable to regain its footing, soon facing a 19-13 deficit on a kill by Crabtree in the final plays of the frame.

Freshman Chriselle Ferdinand had four of FNU's nine kills in the 25-17 loss in set one, and the Conquistadors faced similar problems in the following game. The Red Wolves went ahead 5-0 before kills from Ferdinand and Keelee Okoro cut IUEAST's lead to one. This proved futile after the Red Wolves went on a 12-5 run midway through the frame to take game two 25-17. 

FNU put up a good fight in set three, thanks to a clutch kill from Morales to make it a 21-20 IUEAST advantage down the stretch. Despite the valiant effort, Philistin-Lynch and Aubrey Miller delivered the game-ending kills to hand FNU its first loss of 2025. Ferdinand and Okoro combined for 17 of FNU's 28 kills in the loss, while Ivette Sandoval kicked off her senior season with a team-high 15 assists. 

The Conquistadors faced a quick turnaround, taking on the Spring Arbor Cougars almost directly after their loss to Indiana East. FNU was once again playing from behind, trailing 16-5 in set one. They generated just five kills in the 25-10 loss, four of which were from Morales or Ferdinand. Things continued to slow down for the FNU offense, as they fell 25-10 in set two and had as many attacking errors as kills in the frame (6). 

Meanwhile, SAU was clicking on all cylinders, recording a .583 attacking percentage in the second game to go along with 15 kills. Game three was littered with eight attacking errors for FNU, with Okoro recording two of FNU's four kills in the final set of the afternoon.

Ferdinand once again led the way with six kills, while Ailanie Ortega and Okoro each recorded an assisted block. Notably, Sandoval added seven more assists to her total for the day, and Ariana Long had a team-high six digs in the match. 

Up Next: FNU seeks two wins tomorrow against RV Taylor University at 8 a.m. and cross-town rival Florida Memorial at noon.