MIAMI – The FIU returns to the road this weekend when travels to North Carolina to face Charlotte on Oct. 26, at 7 p.m. The Panthers will then close out the weekend up Interstate 95 at Florida Atlantic on Oct. 28. First serve against the Owls is slated for 12 p.m.
FIU PANTHERS
14-8 (6-2 Conference USA)
Last Match: Oct. 23 at Florida Gulf Coast, L, 3-0 (19-25, 12-25, 15-25)
Next Match: Oct. 28 at Florida Atlantic, 12 p.m.
CHARLOTTE 49ERS
13-12 (3-6 Conference USA)
Last Match: Oct. 21 at Florida Atlantic, L, 3-2 (20-25, 23-25, 25-13, 27-25, 8-15)
Next Match: Oct. 28 vs. Louisiana Tech, 8 p.m.
FLORIDA ATLANTIC OWLS
17-5 (7-2 Conference USA)
Last Match: Oct. 21 Charlotte, W, 3-2 (25-20, 25-23, 13-25, 25-27, 15-8)
Next Match: Oct. 28 vs. FIU, 12 p.m.
Click here for FIU-Charlotte live stats
Click here to watch FIU-Charlotte live on CUSA TV
Click here for FIU-Florida Atlantic live stats
Click here to watch FIU-Florida Atlantic live on CUSA TV
A LOOK AT FIU
The Panthers come into this weekend's match against boasting a 14-8 overall record and a 6-2 mark in Conference USA … They find themselves all alone in fourth place in the C-USA standings, behind Rice (8-0), UTSA (8-1), and Florida Atlantic (7-2) … FIU has won two of its last three matches and eight of its last 11 … FIU is one win shy of equaling its most wins in a season since 2015 when it recorded 15 victories (15-13), and is the second most wins in a season in the last seven years …
Margherita Bianchin (Venice, Italy) comes into this weekend tied for second in the nation in triple-doubles with four on the year … She also leads the team and is ninth in Conference USA in kills, averaging 3.51 per-set, and is sixth in points-per-set (4.13), and ninth in aces-per-set (0.28) in Conference USA … In addition,
Lina Bernier (San Juan, Puerto Rico) is third in digs-per-set (5.00),
Abbie Hughes (Mason, Ohio) is seventh in assists-per-set (8.67), and
Nina Petranovic (Polzela, Slovenia) is 19
th in kills-per-set (2.56) in C-USA.
A LOOK AT CHARLOTTE
The 49ers come into their match with FIU with a 13-12 overall record and an 3-6 mark in Conference USA following its 3-2 loss at Florida Atlantic on Oct. 21 … Charlotte is currently in eighth in the C-USA standings … The 49ers have dropped their last two matches and four of their last six … Reean Richardson is the lone player on the Charlotte roster with over 200 kills, logging 391 on the year … In all, six players have 100 or more kills this season … Nya Steele is the team leader in assists with 966, while Yumi Garcia leads in digs with 590.
A LOOK AT FLORIDA ATLANTIC
Florida Atlantic comes into the weekend with a 17-5 overall record and a 7-2 mark in Conference USA … The Owls sit in third in the C-USA standings … FAU has won its last two matches and seven of its last eight … Massiel Matos and Sigourney Kame each have over 200 kills on the year, with 297 and 245, respectively, while three other players have better than 100 kills … Ivone Martinez leads the team in assists with 969 and Alex Cardona in digs with 293.
A LOOK AHEAD
Following Sunday's match against Florida, the Panthers will remain on the road, traveling to Western Kentucky (Nov. 2, 7 p.m.) and Marshal (Nov. 4, 1 p.m.). The Panthers will return home on Nov. 8, at 7 p.m. to take on Middle Tennessee.
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