Trojans Come From Behind at FAU

Saturday, October 29

Boca Raton, Fla.

1:00 p.m. (est)

Troy University

Florida Atlantic University

10/29/2011 3:03:00 PM | Volleyball

By: Matt Mays

Box Score

BOCA RATON, Fla. – The Troy volleyball team had to come from behind, but in the end they finished off their regular season road schedule with a five-set win at Florida Atlantic on Saturday afternoon.

The Trojans (15-10, 5-6), for the second straight day, fell into an 0-2 hole, however they were able to overcome it as they denied the Owls (3-12, 0-12) their first Sun Belt win of the year.

The 3-2 win moves the Trojans to 4-2 this season in five-set matches, compared to just a 1-4 record last season. The win also gives the Trojans 15 wins for the first time since 2007 when they went 16-17.

Troy finishes the regular season 9-9 away from Sartain Hall as they will close out with five straight at home. The Trojans are 6-1 at Sartain Hall and begin that five-game stretch with South Alabama on Tuesday at 7:00 p.m.

Check back with TroyTrojans.com for a preview of that match in the coming days. Fans can also find Troy on Twitter @TroyAthletics or become fans on Facebook

TROY 3, FLORIDA ATLANTIC 2 (24-26, 18-25, 25-19, 25-13, 15-11)

The Trojans outhit the Owls, .171 to .100 on the day, but that was after two sub-par sets to start the match. The Trojans offense was led by Breanna Cullity who put away 14 kills and just one error for a .433 attack percentage.

Devin Von Pingel (13) and Lucy Cikra (10) also posted double-digit kill numbers for the Trojans. Alexandra Alexander went over 40 assists for the sixth time this season as she recorded 43 to go along 15 digs for a double-double.

Brittany McClelland posted four block assists, bringing her career total to 225, tying Meghan Gilroy for the Troy school record.

Courtney Cohen led the squad with 19 digs while Lizzie Clough was also in double-digits with 14.

The Trojans hit just .068 and -.028 in the first two sets as they fell to the Owls, 26-24 and 25-18. Troy however did not fold as they entered the locker room for the break.

Troy came out firing in the third set as they hit a match-best .391 with 12 kills and just three errors. Despite the hot hitting, the set was still in doubt late as the two sides were tied at 18-18, however, Troy used five straight to take a 23-18 lead before going to take the set, 25-19.

The Trojans dominated the fourth set thanks to a long scoring run. The Owls were within two at 11-9, but that is when the Trojans scored 12 straight to take a 23-9 lead. Troy closed out the set, 25-13.

The fifth set was very tightly contested as the two sides were tied on eight different occasions. The Trojans hit .304 in the set with just one error, but still found themselves in for a tough fight as the two sides were tied 11-11.

Troy forced three straight Florida Atlantic attack errors to pull ahead 14-11 before Cikra's 10th kill of the day closed things out, 15-11, in the deciding set.