Bowling Green, Ky. -  The FIU women's volleyball team (3-13, 0-3 C-USA) played its first conference road game of the season against Western Kentucky University Friday night at E.A. Diddle Arena.The Panthers are still searching for their first C-USA win after getting swept 3-0 (16-25, 17-25, 19-25) against the Hilltoppers. 

Head Coach Cristina Robertson had a lineup change for tonight's match. Setter Camila De la Rosa made the start against WKU in place of Sarah Nading. De la Rosa only played in 16 sets this season entering tonight's match. De la Rosa took full advantage of the extra playing time and recorded a season high 27 assists.

The Panthers dropped the opening set 25-16. WKU stormed out in the opening set with a 5-1 lead but FIU chipped away to trail 6-5. The Hilltoppers started to run away with the lead midway through the first set and the Panthers were down by eight at one point.

The Hilltoppers rode their momentum from the first set into the second. WKU scored the first four points of the set and Alyssa Wissinger put an end to that scoring streak with a kill.FIU was playing catch up in the second set but was still in striking distance. A 7-2 run by WKU late in the second set would put away the Panthers and give the Hilltoppers a commanding 2-0 lead in the match.

In the third set, the Hilltoppers almost dropped their first set in conference play. The Panthers were leading for most of it and at one point, they led 12-7. It was the biggest lead for FIU in the entire match.WKU climbed back into the set with a 6-1 run, and it was all tied up 13-13. FIU did not let go of the lead, however. They answered back with back-to-back points, but WKU buckled down for a late offensive burst.

When the third set was tied 16-16, WKU took advantage of late errors made by FIU and took the set 25-19. WKU remains undefeated in conference play and has won nine consecutive sets.Outside hitter Emily Meyer led the team with 11 kills and continues to lead FIU in that category for the season. Katie Turner led both teams with nine digs and De la Rosa also chipped in with eight.

UP NEXT
FIU will be back in action this Sunday afternoon to take on Middle Tennessee State University at 2 p.m. ET. The team returns home for their following match against the University of Alabama at Birmingham on Friday, Oct. 7 slated for 7 p.m. ET.

SOCIAL MEDIA
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