MIAMI (Sept. 2, 2015) -- The FIU volleyball team (2-1) returns to action this weekend at the Blazer Classic, hosted by Conference USA foe UAB, Sept. 4-5. In addition to the Blazers, FIU will face Savannah State and Austin Peay.
 
FIU opens the weekend against UAB on Friday at 7 p.m. and will continue the tournament on Saturday versus Austin Peay at noon and Savannah State at 3 p.m.
 
The Panthers are a perfect 2-0 versus the Blazers all-time, including a 3-1 win over UAB last season in Miami. Sophomore Jennifer Ene had match-high 12 kills in the victory.
 
FIU and Austin Peay will square off on Saturday for the first time since the 2011 season. The Panthers and Governors have split their series history, one match a-piece. FIU's final opponents of the Classic will be first-time foe Savannah State.
 
For UAB, its attack will rely on returning junior Amber Treace who managed 51 kills last season. Austin Peay is currently last in blocks (11) in the Ohio Valley Conference, which provides an opportunity for FIU's offense, which totaled 39 kills versus USF in last weekend's Panther Challenge.
 
FIU is currently led by a young and talented group of freshmen, including Lina Bernier, who finished last weekend with a .325 hitting percentage, 33 kills, 30 digs and four blocks. On the weekend, Bernier averaged 3.30 kills-per-set, 3.00 digs-per-set and 3.65 points-per-set. Also making a stellar debut last weekend was setter Katie Friesen, who notched two double-doubles, en route to hitting .348, with nine kills, 94 assists and 37 digs during the Panther Classic.
 
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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 Bank Field at FIU Stadium.
 
About FIU: Florida International University is recognized as a Carnegie engaged university. It is a public research university with colleges and schools that offers more than 180 bachelor's, master's and doctoral programs in fields such as engineering, international relations, architecture, law and medicine. As one of South Florida's anchor institutions, FIU contributes $9.8 billion each year to the local economy. FIU is Worlds Ahead in finding solutions to the most challenging problems of our time. FIU emphasizes research as a major component of its mission. FIU has awarded over 200,000 degrees and enrolls more than 54,000 students in two campuses and three centers including FIU Downtown on Brickell, FIU@I-75, and the Miami Beach Urban Studios. FIU also supports artistic and cultural engagement through its three museums: the Patricia & Phillip Frost Art Museum, the Wolfsonian-FIU, and the Jewish Museum of Florida-FIU. FIU is a member of Conference USA and has over 400 student-athletes participating in 18 sports. For more information about FIU, visit http://www.fiu.edu/.