MIAMI – The FIU volleyball team gets back on the court this weekend as it heads to the Lone Star State for a pair of Conference USA matches against UTSA on Oct. 12, at 8 p.m. ET, and UTEP on Oct. 14, at 2 p.m. The matches are two-of-eight that the Panthers will play on the road during a nine-match stretch.
FIU PANTHERS
12-6 (4-1 Conference USA)
Last Match: Oct. 7 at Bethune-Cookman, W, 3-0 (25-15, 25-13, 26-24)
Next Match: Oct. 14 at UTEP, 2 p.m. ET
UTSA
12-5 (4-1 Conference USA)
Last Match: Oct. 7 at UAB, W, 3-1 (25-17, 25-20, 19-25, 25-16)
Next Match: Oct. 14 vs. Florida Atlantic, 1 p.m.
UTEP
3-14 (0-5 Conference USA)
Last Match: Oct. 7 at Marshall, L, 3-2
Next Match: Oct. 19 at Louisiana Tech, 8 p.m.
Click here for FIU-UTSA live stats
Click here to watch FIU-UTSA live on CUSA TV
Click here for FIU-UTEP live stats
Click here to watch FIU-UTEP live on CUSA TV
A LOOK AT FIU
The Panthers come into this weekend's matches at UTSA and UTEP boasting a 12-6 overall record and a 4-1 mark in Conference USA … They are looking for their third-straight win and their seventh win in the last eight matches … The Panthers have posted two-consecutive three-match wins and four in their last six outings … FIU has already posted its most wins in a season since the 2015 campaign when it recorded 15 victories (15-13) and the third most wins over the past seven seasons …
Margherita Bianchin (Venice, Italy) leads the team, and is sixth in points-per-set (4.15), eighth in aces-per-set (0.31) and ninth in kills-per-set (3.48) in Conference USA. In addition,
Lina Bernier (San Juan, Puerto Rico) is third in digs-per-set (5.18) and
Abbie Hughes (Mason, Ohio) is eighth-per-set in assists (8.88).
A LOOK AT UTSA
The Roadrunner come into their match with FIU with a 12-5 overall record and an 4-1 mark in Conference USA … UTSA is one of three teams – along with FIU and Florida Atlantic – tied for third in the C-USA standings … The Roadrunners have won five of its last six matches … Brianna McCulloch is one of five players with more than 100 kills, leading the team with 194 … Amanda Gonzales and Mia Perales each have triple-digit assists with 561 and 208, respectively.
A LOOK AT UTEP
UTEP is currently 3-14 on the year and 0-5 in Conference USA … The Miners have their last six matches coming into this weekend and 12 of their last 13 … Macey Austin leads the team in kills with 245 and Cheyenne Jones is second with 103 … Kristen Fritsche is tops on the team in assists with 582.
A LOOK AHEAD
Following Friday's meeting with LA Tech and Sunday's contest at Bethune-Cookman, the Panthers will travel to the Lone Star State to face UTSA on Oct. 12, at 8 p.m. ET, and then to UTEP on Oct. 14, at 2 p.m. ET.
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