Wichita, Kan. – The Wichita State volleyball team fell in five sets to Florida Atlantic Sunday afternoon at Charles Koch Arena. The Owls (16-7, 9-3 American) took the first set. Wichita State (6-18, 3-9 American), responded by taking the next two sets to take a 2-1 lead, but FAU claimed sets four and five to earn the road victory.  

Florida Atlantic claimed the opening set 25-22. The Shockers took an early lead in set two claiming eight of the first 12 points. A service ace by Grace Hett gave WSU an early 8-4 lead. The Shockers held onto that four-point lead through the remainder of the set, with a combo block from Maddie Wilson and Jenna Cubbage claiming the final point for a 25-21 win.

Set three was tightly contested throughout. FAU took an early lead at 11-6, before the Shockers scored six of the next seven points to tie the score at 12. The score remained tied at 17 before a 5-0 run by the Owls gave FAU a 22-17 lead. The Shockers responded with a 6-0 run of their own to rally back and claim a 23-22 lead, with Olivia Cohee earning the kill to put WSU back in front. A Maddie Wilson kill and an attack error by FAU closed the set with the Shockers ahead 25-23 and 2-1 in the match.

FAU claimed set four 25-20 and the decisive final set 15-11. The Owls jumped out to a 20-10 lead in set four and held off a late Wichita State rally to force set five. The two teams went back and forth early in the final set, before the Owls created separation with a 10-6 advantage midway through the set. The Shockers fought to the end but could not draw closer than four points the rest of the way.

Olivia Cohee led Wichita State with 18 kills on the afternoon. Maddie Wilson (13) and Mackenzie Jones (12) also posted double-digit kill performances on the day.

Wichita State returns to action on Friday, November 6 as the Shockers begin a two-game road swing through the State of Texas. WSU will take on North Texas on Friday and UTSA on Sunday in the penultimate weekend of conference play. The Shockers return home on Friday, November 13 for the final home match of the season against Temple to celebrate Senior Night.