MIAMI — FIU's volleyball program dropped its home Conference USA (CUSA) matchup to Kennesaw State 3-1 on Saturday afternoon. 

The Panthers (3-20, 1-9 CUSA) took the second set, 25-17, after falling 26-24 to the Owls (10-13, 7-5 CUSA) in the opening frame, but dropped the final two sets 25-23, 25-20 for a four-set defeat. 

Courtney O'Brien racked up 15 kills and a season-high 16 digs. Jillian Huckabey picked up a season-high 19 digs and added 11 kills. 

Mandi Morioka matched a career-high with 24 digs to anchor the backline and had zero reception errors. Cameryn Jones and Anna Feldkamp added seven and six kills, respectively, in support. 

Savannah Cook had 38 assists as FIU totaled 44 kills. Madison Morgan racked up a career-high seven blocks. 

The Panthers led 23-21 and 24-23 in the first set, but a late run for the Owls of three-straight points secured them a set victory, 26-24. 

FIU stormed out of the gates in the second set, ahead 13-8 after a Jones kill. The Panthers ripped off the final four points of the frame, sealing the 25-17 win with a Huckabey ace.

In the third, FIU was up 22-16 after an ace from Colby Lane. The Owls went on a 6-0 run to tie the score, but an O'Brien kill put the Panthers up 23-22. KSU finished the set with three-straight kills to go ahead 2-1 in the match. 

Huckabey put the Panthers up 7-6 in the fourth before the Owls scored five-straight tallies to go up 10-7. Jones and Feldkamp had back-to-back kills to get FIU within four at 17-13, but KSU traded points to the finish, clinching the match with a 25-20 result. 

UP NEXT

FIU hosts Liberty in rescheduled matches at home on Oct. 29-30 at Noon and 2 p.m. 

SOCIAL MEDIA

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