Blue Raiders Drop Hard-Fought Match to Florida Atlantic, 3-2

Sunday, February 14

Boca Raton, FL

11:00 AM

Middle Tennessee

-03,01 CUSA

Florida Atlantic

-14,12 CUSA

Middle Tenn.

Fla. Atlantic

2/14/2021 2:33:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

BOCA RATON, Fla. – The Middle Tennessee volleyball team (0-3, 0-1) fought to a second and fourth set victory but was unable to hang on in the fifth, dropping a 3-2 (15-25, 25-23, 19-25, 25-20, 12-15) match up against Florida Atlantic (1-4, 1-2).

Amelia Van Der Werff and Samira Lawson Body led the Blue Raiders with 13 kills each. Kayla Henley and Dasia Smith both contributed 10 kills, while Marley Banton led the defensive effort with 15 digs. Taylor Eisert collected 43 assists, the first time in her young career, she has earned 40 plus assists.

After a match-opening kill from Dasia Smith, later in the set, Florida Atlantic fired off a 10-1 run taking the 18-10 lead as the Blue Raiders offense tried to find its footing. The Owls would go on to win the set 25-15.

After dropping the first set, the Blue Raiders came out strong and kept up with Florida Atlantic, holding within one, 10-9. The Blue Raiders took a 14-11 lead with two consecutive kills and an ace. The Owls would later draw within two, but a 4-1 run late in the set would clinch it for the Blue Raiders and tie the match.

Florida Atlantic opened strong in the third set with a 4-1 lead. Middle Tennessee showed its fight trimming the deficit, 17-15, on a kill from Amelia Van Der Werff. The Owls found a response, going on a 5-2 run to take the third set.

The fourth set remained tightly contested in the first half, with the teams even at 11 before Middle Tennessee turned it on, outscoring the Owls 12-5 to push the match to a fifth and deciding set. Both teams battled back and forth early in the fifth set. The Blue Raiders took a 12-11 lead, but four-straight points for Florid Atlantic clinched the match win.

Middle Tennessee concludes action against Florida Atlantic tomorrow with an 11 a.m. match.

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