Tigers Drop Five-Set Heartbreaker to Florida Atlantic

Friday, October 23

Boca Raton, Fla.

5 p.m.

University of Memphis

7-13,2-7American

Florida Atlantic

14-7,7-3American

Team	1	2	3	4	5	Final F
Memphis	25	25	22	23	8	2
Fla. Atlantic	23	23	25	25	15	3

Oct 23, 2026 | Volleyball

Box Score

BOCA RATON, Fla. – The University of Memphis volleyball (7-13, 2-7 American) team built a 2-0 match lead Friday evening, but could not hold off a furious comeback by Florida Atlantic (14-7, 7-3 American), falling in five sets inside Eleanor Baldwin Arena.

HOW IT HAPPENED
The opening set featured back-and-forth action until Florida Atlantic pushed ahead 18-14. Consecutive kills from Amanda Hardt sparked Memphis, and Caitlyn Little ignited a 5-0 run to give the Tigers set point at 24-20. Despite a late 3-0 surge from FAU, Memphis held on to take the opener, 25-23.

Memphis carried that momentum into the second frame, jumping out to a quick 6-2 advantage behind attacks from Little, Hardt and Paige Mock. The Owls clawed back to level the score at 23-23, but an FAU service error followed by an Arianna Mongare service ace sealed another 25-23 win for the Tigers.

FAU answered in the third set, taking advantage of a mid-set 3-0 spurt to pull ahead late and fend off Memphis, 25-22.

The fourth set remained tight throughout. Trailing 18-16, the Tigers surrendered back-to-back kills to Sara Gamboa and a putaway from Maya Van Heyst as the Owls stretched the lead to five. Memphis answered with five straight points to make it a one-point set, but Florida Atlantic held firm to force a fifth frame with a 25-23 decision.

In the decisive fifth set, the teams traded points early before Gamboa catalyzed a match-clinching 9-1 run for the Owls, closing out the set 15-8.

NOTABLES

Caitlyn Little led the Tigers offensively with 22 kills and 24.5 points.
- The senior recorded her fifth 20 plus kill performance this season.
Amanda Hardt tallied 17 kills while hitting a blistering .481.
- This marks the eight match this season in which Little and Hardt have both posted double-digit kills.
Sydney Marshall dished out 49 assists and 10 digs during the match.
- The junior has recorded her seventh double-double this season.
Abigail Schlueter posted 19 digs, moving into fifth place on Memphis' all-time career digs list with 1,442.
- The senior also recorded her first kill of the season.
Arianna Mongare tied her career-high in services with five during the match
- Mongare also led the Tigers in blocks with five.
Three Tigers recorded double-digit digs: Schlueter (19), Marshall (10) and Taylor Hampton (10).
Memphis tallied eight service aces, matching its highest single-match total since Sept. 25 against Wichita State.

UP NEXT
Memphis wraps up its Florida road trip on Sunday, Oct. 25, facing South Florida in Tampa. First serve is scheduled for noon.

HOW TO FOLLOW THE TIGERS
For complete information on Memphis Tigers Volleyball, visit www.GoTigersGo.com and follow the team's social media channels on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.