Boca Raton, Fla. - Stetson Volleyball travels to Boca Raton this weekend to compete in the Owls Paradise Classic, hosted by Florida Atlantic. The Hatters will face Florida Atlantic, Bethune-Cookman, and George Washington during the two-day tournament.

The action begins on Friday, September 19, with Stetson opening play against Bethune-Cookman at 10:00 a.m., followed by a primetime matchup against host FAU at 7:00 p.m. The Hatters will close out the weekend on Saturday, September 20, at 11:00 a.m. against George Washington.

Stetson enters the tournament following a strong showing in Charleston, where the team went 2-1 with wins over Quinnipiac and Youngstown State before falling to the host Cougars. Senior setter Nyah Molina etched her name into the Stetson record book, surpassing 3,000 career assists. Combined with her 1,000 career digs, Molina becomes just the third player in program history to reach both milestones.

The Hatters' win over Youngstown State was marked by a dominant defensive performance, tallying 21 total blocks—the most in a match since October 8, 2021. Kayla Balfour led the charge with a career-high 13 total blocks. On the offensive end, Zuzanna Bury, who leads the team in kills, recorded her first 20-20 double-double with career highs in kills (27) and digs (20).
 
Scouting the Opponents
Bethune-Cookman (3-6)
The Wildcats come into the weekend with a 3-6 overall record, most recently going 1-2. They swept South Carolina State before falling to Charleston Southern and Jacksonville. Tiyanna Preston leads the team with 70 kills, followed closely by Ariel Simmons with 65. On defense, Sthefany Carvalho has collected a team-best 155 digs, while Kaleigh Williams leads the Wildcats at the net with 48 blocks.

Florida Atlantic (6-4)
FAU enters the tournament at 6-4 after a 1-2 weekend, which included a straight-set loss to Arkansas State, a five-set win over Brown, and a 1-3 defeat to UCF. Olivia Hart leads the Owls offensively with 112 kills. Isabelle Northam anchors the back row with 132 digs, and Maggie Allred has posted a team-high 37 blocks.

George Washington (5-4)
The Revolutionaries come in with a 5-4 record, riding momentum from a 3-0 weekend in which they dropped only one set across wins over UMBC, Loyola Maryland, and Morgan State. Cayla Cogan leads GW with 102 kills, with Taylor Treahy close behind at 98. Defensively, Lydia Zeng has recorded 101 digs, while Sydney Hasenfratz leads the team in blocks with 26.
 
Fans can follow real-time stats at GoHatters.com.
 
About Stetson Athletics
At Stetson University, student-athletes don't just compete—they thrive. Located in historic DeLand, Florida, between Orlando and Daytona Beach, Stetson offers the perfect blend of competitive athletics, academic excellence, and an unbeatable Central Florida lifestyle. As the oldest private university in the region, Stetson supports approximately 500 student-athletes across 19 NCAA Division I sports. Nicknamed the "Hatters" after the institution's namesake John B. Stetson, a hat manufacturer who originated the modern-day cowboy hat, most Stetson athletic teams compete in the Atlantic Sun Conference, where they proudly hold the longest active membership since 1985. With top-tier facilities, personalized support, and a welcoming campus community, Stetson is where students can grow, compete, and succeed. Learn more at GoHatters.com or follow social media accounts @StetsonHatters.