Interview With Coach Brown

Nov. 7, 2006

The Florida Atlantic University volleyball team's season comes down to the final weekend. The Owls are looking for a berth into the Sun Belt Conference Tournament and need to win their final two matches. FAU will face the University of South Alabama on Friday at 7 p.m. and the seniors will be honored before the Troy University match on Saturday at 2 p.m.

The Owls (9-17, 5-10 SBC) enter the weekend tied for eighth in the conference standings with the top eight squads advancing to the Sun Belt Tournament on November 15-18. In previous meetings this season, FAU picked up victories over both teams in matches on the road.

FAU is led by junior Justine Petry's .285 hitting percentage and 95 blocks. A trio of freshmen have stepped up for the Owls this season as well. Krystena Castro is second on the squad with a .273 hitting percentage, while Nikki Hartman and Kaila Janssen have posted 318 and 257 digs, respectively, to carry the team.

USA has dropped 17 consecutive matches and stands at 5-22, 0-15 SBC. When the Jaguars and Owls met on September 29, FAU came away with a 30-25, 30-23, 30-26 win. South Alabama is hitting .135 as a team and are trailing opponents in every category except blocking where they hold a 2.16 to 1.99 blocks per game advantage.

Brittany Blackwelder leads the team with 94 blocks (0.98 blocks per game) and has a team-high .198 hitting percentage.

Troy's last win over FAU was in 1995 and the Owls hold an 11-2 series advantage. On September 30, Florida Atlantic took a 24-30, 30-19, 30-17, 30-28 win over the Trojans.

Meghan Gilroy has helped the team to a 9-22, 3-12 SBC record by posting a .319 hitting percentage with 277 kills.

FAU seniors Iana Andonova and Cassi Ociesa will be honored on Sunday before their last match at FAU Arena.