MIAMI — FIU's volleyball program went toe-to-toe with Western Kentucky on Saturday afternoon, falling in five sets in Conference USA (CUSA) play.
The Panthers (2-16, 0-5 CUSA) faced off with the Hilltoppers (14-6, 7-0 CUSA) and gave WKU's 80-match CUSA Regular Season win streak a true test inside the Ocean Bank Convocation Center. After falling behind 2-0 in the match, FIU regained control and won sets three and four to send the match into a deciding fifth frame.
The Panthers went down early in the fifth, but continued to fight to the finish, falling 15-12 in the deciding frame to keep the Hilltoppers' historic streak alive. Courtney O'Brien racked up a career-high 25 kills to lead the offensive effort, hitting at a .321 clip on 53 attempts.
Jillian Huckabey and Anna Feldkamp also were instrumental in FIU's near comeback, racking up 13 and 10 kills, respectively. Savannah Cook entered the match in the second set and fueled much of the Panther run, finishing with 33 assists.
Mandi Morioka led the defensive effort with 18 digs and added seven assists in five sets. Travel Morris was effective at the net with 5.0 total blocks, adding eight kills at a .500 attacking percentage.
As a team, the Panthers totaled 19 kills in set three, hitting .357, and totaled 17 kills in service four, attacking at a blistering .483 clip.
FIU's .244 attack percentage is its third-best this season and best mark in CUSA play so far. The 64 kills for the Panthers are the second-most for FIU this year and also its top output in conference play.
O'Brien's 25 kills are the most in a single-match for the Panthers since Giada Bianchi also totaled 25 kills against Charlotte on Oct. 30, 2021.
Staring at a 2-0 match deficit, the Panthers started to make their push with the score tied at 7-all in the third. Back-to-back O'Brien kills capped a 7-3 FIU run to push ahead, 14-10. Ahead 20-15, WKU stormed back with seven-straight points. FIU responded with a crucial run to end the third, ripping off five of the last six tallies to take the set, 25-23.
In the fourth, the Panthers trailed 8-5, but found a way to tie the score at 10-all. FIU went on an impressive 8-1 run at this juncture to take command of the fourth frame. The Panther momentum continued to surge as a kill from Huckabey closed out the 25-19 victory in set four.
FIU erased 7-3 early deficit in the fifth, pulling within one several times in the frame. WKU, however, held off the Panthers' upset bid with a 15-12 win in the fifth.
UP NEXT
FIU takes on WKU again tomorrow, Sunday, Oct. 13 at Noon to wrap up its weekend in CUSA play.
SOCIAL MEDIA
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