By Pete Pelegrin
Twitter: @Petepelegrin

The FIU volleyball team is off to a 5-1 start thanks to a healthy blend of solid returning players and an influx of productive freshmen.

Of their five wins this season the Panthers rallied to win in three of the matches in part because of poise and contributions from several different players.

"What I really like is that we are really jelling as a team," said FIU head coach Rita Buck-Crockett. "They are buying into our systems. Having them stay patient and trusting the systems are the most important things for them to continue to grow."

Currently tied with UTSA (5-1) for first place in the Conference USA standings, FIU is among the leaders in the conference in several statistical categories both on offense and defense.

The Panthers are second in opponent hit percentage allowing just a .152 mark. Rice tops the league with a .150 clip.

FIU is third in blocks with 2.16 per set. Libero Lina Bernier is third in the conference tallying 4.76 digs per set.

Offensively, the Panthers are third in kills with 13.48 per set. Senior outside hitter Margherita Bianchin is fourth in the conference with 3.72 kills per set.

FIU is also third in C-USA with 12.40 assists per set. Freshman Abbie Hughes leads the Panthers with 8.16 assists per set.

Another freshman Ronja Klinger made her debut last weekend at Panther Fest and delivered 3.44 kills per set which places her right behind Bianchin on the team. Klinger also averaged 2.67 digs per set.

"Ronja Klinger is a big surprise," said Buck-Crockett. "She has exceeded our expectations. Our freshman setter Abbie Hughes is doing a great job leading the team as our quarterback. The veterans have come back ready to go. Chelsea Hudson is doing a great job in the middle. Margherita Bianchin is a rock. She is steady and such a positive role model and team leader. That makes it so much easier for everybody else to just focus on their jobs because she's really being a good leader on that court."

The depth of the Panthers roster has improved and that's another reason FIU has won five of its first six matches.

"Whoever we put in the team keeps rolling," Buck-Crockett said. "They maintain the level with whoever we are putting in so that means the players get to be on the court more. We get to put more players on the court so some of them can rest. I think that is very important because there are times where we have two tough matches a day and we need to rest some of those that are getting a lot of swings. It's really good that we can do that."

FIU heads to Orlando this weekend to compete at the UCF Tournament. The Panthers take on host UCF at 11 a.m. Friday. FIU will also play Wofford and the University of Illinois-Chicago in the event.