Box Score (PDF) 

BROOKINGS, S.D. (Sept. 12, 2014) – The FIU volleyball team concluded its first day at he the SDSU Challenge with a 3-2 (18-25, 17-25, 25-18, 25-16, 13-15) loss to host South Dakota State Friday night from Frost Arena. With the loss, the Panthers fall to 3-6 on the season, while the Jackrabbits improve to 4-5.

Junior Lucia Castro garnered a career-best and match-high 27 kills while posting a new career-high .533 (27-3/45) hitting percentage. Fellow junior Gloria Levorin posted a season-high 13 kills, while senior Martyna Gluchowicz and freshman Jennifer Ene chipped in with eight kills apiece.

Sophomore Anabela Sataric has made her mark in FIU history with a career-high 62 assists, which now ranks seventh in FIU's single-match record books. The Switzerland native also tied her career-high 13 digs for her second double-double on the season. Castro also posted a double-double notching 15 digs to go along with her 27 kills. This was the Puerto Rican's third double-double on the year and 11^th in her career.   

The Jackrabbits got off to a speedy start going up 8-3 to open the match. The Panthers quickly called timeout, and matched South Dakota State almost point-for-point, but could not overcome their early deficit. Despite hitting .206 in the frame, the Jackrabbits hit an impressive .448, posting only three attack errors.
SDSU wasted no time, picking up right where it left off going ahead 8-3 early in the second frame. Back-to-back Castro kills helped pull the Panthers back within three, but the Jackrabbits went back on the offensive with a 5-1 run, forcing another FIU timeout. Despite the break in play, the Panthers did not have an answer for the South Dakota State offensive attack as they closed out the second set, 25-17.

In the third set, FIU came out strong taking an early 4-0 lead. The Panthers maintained the advantage through the end, and never trailed in the frame. FIU had a better defensive outing, holding the Jackrabbits to a .108 hitting percentage.

The fourth set began with the two teams exchanging points over the first plays of the frame, but a 12-4 run quickly put the Panthers ahead, 15-8. Despite a late Jackrabbit attempt to climb back into the set, FIU held the momentum, taking the fourth set 25-16.

SDSU scored four of the first five points in the fifth frame, forcing an early FIU timeout. The Panthers climbed back tying the set at 6-6, but the Jackrabbits quickly regained a two-point lead. FIU tied it up for the second time on the night before another Castro kill would give the Panthers a one-point lead to force a South Dakota State timeout. FIU extended its lead, 12-10, before forcing the Jackrabbits to call another timeout.  SDSU came out of the huddle on fire, going on a 3-0 run to take a one-point advantage, forcing the Panthers to use its final timeout. A late attack error plagued FIU in the end as they fell in the fifth, 15-13.

FIU concludes the SDSU Challenge tomorrow morning at 11 a.m. as the Panthers are set to face the Iowa Hawkeyes (6-2).

Fans are encouraged to follow the Panthers on Twitter (@FIUVolleyball) and become a fan on Facebook (Facebook.com/FIUVolleyball) for all the latest FIU volleyball news. Follow all of FIU's 18 athletic teams on Google+ (FIU Athletics), Twitter (@FIUAthletics), Facebook (Facebook.com/FIUSports), YouTube (FIUPanthers), and Instagram (FIUathletics).
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About FIU Athletics: FIU Athletics is home to more than 400 student-athletes in 18 different sports. Athletic events are played in seven different venues on FIU's campuses (Modesto A. Maidique and Biscayne Bay), including FIU Arena and Ocean BankField at FIU Stadium.

About FIU: Florida International University is recognized as a Carnegie engaged university. Its colleges and schools offer more than 180 bachelor¹s, master¹s and doctoral programs in fields such as engineering, international relations, architecture, law and medicine. As one of South Florida¹s anchor institutions, FIU is Worlds Ahead in its local and global engagement, finding solutions to the most challenging problems of our time. FIU emphasizes research as a major component of its mission. FIU has awarded 200,000 degrees and enrolls 54,000 students in two campuses and three centers including FIU Downtown on Brickell and the Miami Beach Urban Studios. FIU is a member of Conference USA and has 400 student-athletes participating in 18 sports. For more information about FIU, visit http://www.fiu.edu/