Paradise Brew 3/21: Our Owls > Their Owls

Florida Atlantic baseball begins AAC play tonight with a three-game weekend series against Rice and a 6:30 p.m. first pitch.

Good morning, Owls Family. Florida Atlantic baseball begins AAC play tonight, closing out a nine-game homestand. The FAU Owls (17-4) and Rice (4-17) begin a three-game weekend series with a 6:30 p.m. first pitch. Saturday's scheduled start time is 4 p.m., and Sunday's finale is set for noon. All games are on ESPN+.

The Owls are 15-2 at home so far this season. John Schroeder and Trey Beard are ones to watch. Schroeder enters tonight’s game on a seven-game hitting streak. Beard pitched six shutout innings with nine strikeouts in his most recent start against Bradley.  

What else do we have mixed into today’s Brew? Check it out below!

🏊🏼 Nick Shaffer reflects on his impressive collegiate career
🏆 Men’s tennis have won six in a row with recent dub over E. Tennessee State
🦉 And much, much more

Number of the Day: 21

We’re counting down the days to Florida Atlantic’s 2025 football spring game on Friday night, April 11, at 6:30 pm ET! In honor of the 21 days we have to wait, we take a look at incoming freshman on the football squad, #21, Ethan Ervin. A three-star recruit with a composite score of .841, Ervin led the Buford ground game with 722 yards on an average of 8.2 per-carry. He reached the end zone seven times in his senior season for his team that was ranked 10th in the nation and second in the state of Georgia

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🔼 A Career That Went Swimmingly. Closing out your collegiate career with two gold medals and a new school record is hard to beat. Senior swimmer Nick Shaffer knows that very well. Shaffer wrapped up his career at FAU in the 2025 Atlantic Sun Conference Championships, where he took home a gold medal in the 400 IM as well as the 800 free relay, where his relay team set a new school record by six seconds.
 
🌊 : Read the feature on Shaffer for more on his family’s influence on his swimming career, his impressive sophomore year achievements but also why he loved his senior season the most.

🔼 Can’t Touch This. The No. 27 Florida Atlantic women's tennis team picked up a 4-0 win over East Tennessee State on Thursday morning at the Kimberly V. Strauss Tennis Center to move the team's record to 10-0 on the year.
 
The match was clinched by senior Lexi Silna, who is perfect this season at 9-0. With the win, the Owls are one win shy of tying the program's best start of 11-0 set in 2024.

🔼 Half Dozen Dubs in a Row. The No. 65 FAU men's tennis team made it six wins in a row with a 4-0 victory over East Tennessee State on Wednesday, and the Owls move to 7-7 on the year.
 
Playing a clinch-clinch format, FAU captured the doubles point with wins on courts one and two. Needing just three singles points to secure the match, FAU began play by taking control on all six courts, but it was the underclassmen who secured the victory. Sophomore Mark Havlicek, who has captured his last five matches, gave the Owls a 2-0 lead before the freshman duo of Segundo Goity Zapico, a winner of his last six, and Jan Kusy closed out the match with straight-set wins.

🔼 A Softball Celebration. The No. 22 Florida Atlantic softball team continues AAC play with a home series versus Charlotte today through Sunday, March 21-23. All games are on ESPN+. Friday's matchup between the Owls (27-4, 6-0) and the 49ers (14-16, 2-4) is scheduled for 6 p.m. PM ET. The series will continue with a 2 p.m. matchup Saturday before concluding with a noon first pitch on Sunday. 
 
Prior to Friday's game, FAU Head Coach Jordan Clark will be recognized for recording her 100th career win, all with the Owls.

🔼 Working Both Ends of the Field. Florida Atlantic football returned to the practice fields on Thursday in preparation mode for a Saturday closed scrimmage. The defensive side of the ball celebrated and praised each other after causing havoc throughout the day, first in seven-on-seven work then again when trading blows in full team work. The offense responded with several scores while working the red zone, including a practice-ending reception by Leon Washington Jr.

🔼 From Sailfish to Flying Feet. The No. 14 Florida Atlantic beach volleyball team heads to DeLand, Florida, this weekend to compete at the Stetson Beach Blast today and tomorrow, March 21-22. FAU enters the weekend at 10-6 overall and 2-1 in CUSA play.
 
The Owls open play this morning with an 8 a.m. ET first serve against the Palm Beach Atlantic Sailfish. The squad closes out day one at 11:30 a.m. against No. 7 Florida State. FAU will kick off day two against host No. 16 Stetson with a 10:30 a.m. first serve. Florida Atlantic will close out the weekend at 2 p.m. in their first meeting against the Erskine Flying Fleet.

🔼 A Solid Effort. The FAU MBB team staged a comeback in the closing minutes but ultimately fell to Dayton by a score of 86-79 in the opening round of the NIT at the Elly.
 
In a strong offensive showing, the Owls (18-16) shot over 50% from the field with four double-digit scorers, led by sophomore forward Kaleb Glenn with 18 points. In his last three games, Matas Vokietaitis went a combined 22-for-28 (79%) from the field, averaging 17.3 per game.

🔼 Mac’s Bracket ‘N’ More. On this week’s episode of Mac’s Musings, we test Coach Mac’s recollection of some of the most memorable games in Florida Atlantic baseball history. We also fill out an NCAA Tournament bracket based on who the superior mascot is. Plus, we answer a mailbag question and talk about what’s happening around campus this weekend.

👂🏼 : LISTEN ON SPOTIFY

⇢⇢⇢ Which Florida Atlantic MBB squad member ended the season leading in points per game?

Have a guess?

Scroll to the bottom to find out!

🦉 ONE BIG THING

The Elly Jelly is Real. Despite the tough season-ending loss this week for MBB, we can still give it up for the incredible Owls fans and the spectacle of an Elly filled with a sea of red.

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Friday, March 21
🏖️ Beach Volleyball vs. Palm Beach Atlantic @ Stetson Beach Blast in DeLand, Florida @ 8 a.m. ET
🏖️ Beach Volleyball vs. Florida State @ Stetson Beach Blast in DeLand, Florida @ 11:30 a.m. ET
🥎 Softball vs. Charlotte @ 6 p.m. ET ESPN+ | Tickets
⚾️ Baseball vs. Rice @ 6:30 p.m. ET ESPN+ | Live Stats | Tickets

Saturday, March 22
👟 X-Country/Track & Field @ UM Hurricane Invitational in Coral Gables, Florida
🏖️ Beach Volleyball vs. Stetson @ Stetson Beach Blast in DeLand, Florida @ 10:30 a.m. ET
🏖️ Beach Volleyball vs. Erskine @ Stetson Beach Blast in DeLand, Florida @ 2 p.m. ET
🥎 Softball vs. Charlotte @ 2 p.m. ET ESPN+ | Live Video | Live Stats | Tickets
⚾️ Baseball vs. Rice @ 4 p.m. ET ESPN+ | Live Stats | Tickets

Sunday, March 23
🎾 Women’s Tennis vs. Delaware @ 9:30 a.m. ET | Live Stats
⚾️ Baseball vs. Rice @ Noon ET ESPN+ | Live Stats | Tickets
🥎 Softball vs. Charlotte @ Noon ET ESPN+ | Tickets
🎾 Men’s Tennis vs. Tulane @ 1 p.m. ET

🦉 Go here for the complete Florida Atlantic University Athletics Calendar

Paradise Trivia is brought to you by Choice Mortgage Group, the Official Mortgage Lender of Florida Atlantic Athletics.

The Answer: Kaleb Glenn!

Glenn finished the season leading the team at 12.6 points per game in his first season as an Owl.

🦉 Have a fantastic weekend, Owl Fam!