The Sun Belt Conference-leading FIU Golden Panthers defeated the Lady Owls volleyball team on Tuesday Oct. 21 in a 25-15, 25-16, 26-24 sweep.

FAU was on the defensive all night as FIU’s junior kill-queen Yarimar Rosa finished the match with 15 kills and 30 assists. FIU’s Freshman Andrea Lakovic balanced out the rest of the attack on FAU with 16 kills and 23 assists.

“I think today we played as a team,” Rosa said after the game. “The middles did their work and it made it easier for me and the setter.”

Rosa’s powerful spikes left FAU defenders shaking their heads more often than not. Whether she was deep in the court or at the net, Rosa was able to fire at will with her high jumps and accurate placements. FAU was only able to muster up 15 blocks against FIU.

“I always expect to win,” Rosa said. “One, two, three – fast and easy.”

Taking only one hour and twenty minutes, the match was certainly fast. FIU sent over 300 fans home early. The intermission between the second and third games seemed to last longer than any one battle.

“The coach gave us a long speech after,” FAU Junior Krystena Castro said. “Our defense wasn’t there and we need to regroup.”

Castro looked good at the net with eight kills and three assisted blocks, but she was quickly off the court when service was rotated.

FAU will have until Nov. 15 to muster up a retaliation. And assuming the Lady Owls make the conference tournament, they will probably have to defeat FIU to win the championship.

In the meantime, the FAU travels to Arkansas for two matches this weekend against Arkansas State and Arkansas-Little Rock.