MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — FIU's volleyball program fell in straight sets to Middle Tennessee on the road in Conference USA (CUSA) action on Saturday afternoon.
FIU (2-15, 0-4 CUSA) led for most of the opening set against the Blue Raiders (6-10, 2-2 CUSA), but a late MTSU run proved the difference in a 29-27 result. The Panthers and Blue Raiders traded points for most of the afternoon as FIU dropped the final two frames by scores of 25-22 and 26-24, respectively.
Kira Givans led the attack for the second-straight match, totaling 11 kills. Courtney O'Brien had an efficient 10 kills in support on 19 attempts, hitting .421 and adding four digs. Kaylee Musick dished out 28 assists and chipped in a season-high five service errors and five digs.
As a team, the Panthers had an excellent day blocking at the net, totaling 11.0 team blocks, a season-high. Travel Morris led the effort with 6.0 blocks while Julia Thomas had 5.0. Defensively, Mandi Morioka had 14 digs to anchor the back line. Colby Lane played in all three sets and had 10 digs off the bench. The Panthers totaled 37 combined digs to MTSU's 30.
FIU out-hit the Blue Raiders .216-.195, but MTSU had 44 kills while the Panthers had 34. FIU had eight service aces, also a season-high.
In the opening set, the Panthers led 23-18, but eventually fell to MTSU as the Blue Raiders ran off three points to secure the 29-27 win. Set two featured a 5-0 early run from FIU and the Panthers maintained a three-point advantage on a Musick service ace at 13-10. Middle Tennessee then went on a 15-9 run to close the set, 25-22.
MTSU led 13-8, but the Panthers roared back, tying the score at 23-all late in the frame. A kill from O'Brien tied the score at 24-24 before MTSU scored the final two points to complete the sweep.
UP NEXT
FIU returns home for two match-ups with Liberty on Oct. 8-9 inside the Ocean Bank Convocation Center.
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