Orlando, Fla. -  The FIU women's volleyball team (2-4, 0-0 CUSA) went 1-1 in the first day of the "UCF Challenge" after winning in straight sets against Alabama State University (25-22, 25-22, 25-20) and dropped their afternoon showdown against Mississippi State 3-0 (21-25, 23-25 ,23-25) inside The Venue at UCF.

 VS ALABAMA STATE

The Lady Hornets (0-5, 0-0 SWAC) got out to an early 8-5 lead in the first set thanks to a 3-0 run but FIU was able to keep the score close and took the lead briefly when it was 13-12.

Both teams exchanged points until ASU took a 20-19 lead late in the set. The Panthers were able to prevent the Lady Hornets from taking the opening set and closed them out with a 6-2 run for a comeback set win. Outside hitter Jade Sadeiko sparked the Panthers' late rally with four kills in the set and finish the match with a team-high 13.
 
The Panthers took the second set for a commanding 2-0 lead in the match, 25-22. The set didn't begin in their favor however, as the Lady Hornets had an early 11-7 lead. A 3-0 Panthers run chipped into Alabama State's lead to make it 11-10 and FIU kept the set close from that point on.
 
The biggest Panthers' run of the match occurred later in this set when the Lady Hornets led 22-17 and had an opportunity to tie up the match. After FIU called a timeout, they denied ASU from doing so and rattled off eight straight points to win the second set 25-22.
 
There was no late comeback effort needed for FIU in the third set. Alabama State and FIU went back and forth in points until the Lady Hornets took a 13-11 lead. The Panthers regained the lead and never looked back after they went on a 3-0 run to make it 14-13.
 
FIU's lead would increase to four with a 19-15 lead and would close out the Lady Hornets to win the set 25-20 and the match 3-0. The victory marks the second win for the Panthers in straight sets.  
 
Reigning Conference USA Freshman of the Week, Gianna Tagoa'I, established a new career high in assists with 35 against the Lady Hornets breaking her previous record of 30 against Lamar on August 25. Tagoa'I also tied Amber Beals and Jade Sadeiko for the team-high in digs with seven. Outside hitter, Syra Tanchin, set a season high against Alabama State with 11 kills and led the Panthers with a .786 kill percentage.

VS MISSISSIPPI STATE
 
In the first set against the Bulldogs (4-1, 0-0 SEC) the Panthers stormed out to a 5-1 lead and the four-point advantage stayed that way early on when the score was 9-5.
 
Mississippi State chipped away at FIU's lead and tied the set at 11-11. The score remained close until the Bulldogs took their own four-point lead at 19-15. FIU clawed their way back trailing late 22-21 until MSU closed out the opening set on a 3-0 run to win 25-21.
 
In the second set, the Panthers controlled the lead early on and built a 19-14 lead. From there, the Bulldogs turned the set in their favor thanks to 10-2 run and took a 24-21 lead.
 
The Panthers' strung together back-to-back points but Mississippi State held off their comeback attempt to win the set 25-23 and take a 2-0 match lead.
 
In the third set, the Bulldogs went out to a 9-6 lead, but FIU took their first lead in the set after a 6-3 run to make the score 12-11. FIU's lead did not last long however as MSU responded with 4-0 run to regain the lead at 15-12.
 
FIU was never able to recapture the lead from that point on and got as close as to one point when they trailed 20-19 and 24-23.  
 
Yasso Amin led the Panthers against the Bulldogs with a season-high 12 kills and tied Travel Morris for the team lead with two blocks. Morris also finished second on the team with her own season-high eight kills.
 
Gianna Tagoa'I paced FIU with 31 assists and that marks the first time in her collegiate career with back-to-back matches with 30 or more assists. Libero Amber Beals led all players from both teams with 16 digs for a season-high.

UP NEXT
FIU will wrap up their time in the "UCF Challenge" when they take Wake Forest tomorrow Sunday, Sept. 3 at 1:00 p.m. ET.

SOCIAL MEDIA
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