Date Posted: 11/19/2005

Nashville, Tenn. – Behind the hitting of A-Sun Player of the Year Kelly Paiva, Florida Atlantic claimed the 2005 Atlantic Sun Championship on Saturday afternoon.

The Owls rallied from an early one game deficit to defeat No. 3 Belmont 3-1 at the Curb Event Center on the campus of Belmont University. Florida Atlantic captures their third Atlantic Sun Championship crown and will make their first appearance at the NCAA Championship since 1999. FAU improves to 3-1 all-time in tournament finals while the Bruins fall in the championship match for the second consecutive season.

Paiva, the tournament’s most valuable player, racked up an Atlantic Sun Championship record 31 kills in 85 attempts in the victory while her setter Casey LaRocca finished with 61 assists. Belmont senior Lindsey Cleveland wrapped up her collegiate career with a 19-kill effort in the loss.

The host Bruins (22-15) came out of the gates firing as they committed just five errors as a team to grab an early lead with a 30-27 game one victory. Top-seeded Florida Atlantic (29-2) recovered in game two by outscoring Belmont 8-4 down the stretch for a 30-26 win. Out of the intermission, the Owls cranked up the offensive attack, hitting .293 on their way to an impressive 30-17 game three win. In the decisive fourth game, FAU again used a late surge to pull away, outscoring the Bruins 10-4 over the match’s final 14 points to clinch the tournament title.

Following the match, Paiva was named tournament MVP while her teammates Casey LaRocca and Katie Arvidson joined her on the All-Tournament team along with Belmont’s senior duo of Lindsey Cleveland and Sara Jacobson and Lipscomb’s Cara Wilber.

The Owls will find out their first round opponent on Sunday, November 27 during the NCAA Selection Show.