Date Posted: 11/18/2005

Nashville, Tenn. – Atlantic Sun Conference Player of the Year Kelly Paiva racked up a match-high 21 kills in leading top-seeded Florida Atlantic past Lipscomb 3-0 in the semifinals of the conference championship at the Curb Event Center.

The Owls have dropped just six games in 12 matches versus A-Sun members this season and rolled to the 30-24, 30-24, 30-19 victory.

Paiva hit .333, committing just four errors in 51 attempts while adding 15 digs. As a team, the Owls (28-2) held the Lady Bisons to just .041 hitting during the match. All-Freshman team selection Cara Wilber had 11 kills and 11 digs, her second double-double of the championship. The Georgetown, Calif., native finished the tournament with 37 kills and 30 digs in two matches.

The Owls improve their winning percentage to .933, the sixth-best mark in the NCAA. With the win, Florida Atlantic has won 12 straight matches against A-Sun foes dating back to a 3-2 loss to Jacksonville in the Atlantic Sun semifinals last season. FAU’s 28 wins equal the most victories by an A-Sun member since Campbell won 32 matches in 1998. Lipscomb reached the semifinals in their first appearance at the Atlantic Sun Championship.

Florida Atlantic will be making their fourth appearance in the Atlantic Sun Championship match, holding a 2-1 record all-time in the finals. The Owls are looking for their first conference title since winning the 1999 tournament as the third-seed.

The championship match will commence at 1:00 pm with the Owls facing the winner of the day one nightcap between No. 2 Jacksonville and No. 3 Belmont.

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