Bowling Green, Ky. -  The FIU women's volleyball team dropped its Friday night match in three straight sets (24-26, 22-25, 17-25) against No. 22 Rice University in the Conference USA Volleyball Championship quarterfinal round hosted by Western Kentucky University.

The Panthers and Owls were in a very completive opening set. Rice was out to an 8-2 lead early on, but FIU responded with a 7-0 scoring run to take a 9-8 lead. The Owls stopped the Panthers' run to tie the set but neither team was able to establish a comfortable lead. From that point on, both teams went back and forth exchanging scores until the Owls edged out the Panthers with two straight points at the end of the set to make it 26-24.

The Owls rode their momentum from the first set into the second to take a 2-0 lead in the match. The second set started off very similarly to the opener as Rice was out to a 9-4 lead. The Panthers answered with a 7-3 run to trail only by one point 12-11. FIU was unable to grab the lead however, as the Owls created separation late in this set to win 25-22.
 
Rice closed out the Panthers in this match by winning the third set 25-17. The Owls were quickly out to a 5-0 lead, and it grew to 9-2. When FIU was trailing 10-5, they clawed back into this set and took the lead thanks to a 6-0 run. The Panthers would hold their lead until the score reached 16-15.
 
The Owls sealed the set and match when they went on an impressive 9-0 run to turn the score in their favor 24-16. The Panthers snapped their scoring run but ultimately fell to the Owls the following play to make the final score 25-17. Rice will move on to the semifinals to take on the winner between UTEP or Charlotte. 
 
The Panthers had two players finish with double digit kills. Outside hitter, Kira Givans, finished with 12 kills and outside hitter, Jade Sadeiko, also finished with a team leading 12 kills. Sadeiko was second on the Panthers with 10 digs. Sarah Nading recorded a double-double. She paced FIU with 33 assists and chipped in 10 digs as well. Libero, Katie Turner, finished with a team leading 22 digs.

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