MIAMI — FIU's volleyball program secured a win in straight sets over Sam Houston on Saturday afternoon in its final match of 2024 at the Ocean Bank Convocation Center.
The Panthers honored seniors Anna Feldkamp, Cameryn Jones, Colby Lane and Travel Morris prior to the match. FIU (8-24, 6-12 CUSA) notched a 3-0 match win for the second day in-a-row, downing the Bearkats (13-16, 8-10) by scores of 25-21, 25-18 and 25-14, respectively.
Jillian Huckabey led the attack with 12 kills, hitting .222 on 36 attempts. Feldkamp racked up 11 kills in her final home match with FIU, hitting a season-high .429. Courtney O'Brien also was in double-digits with 10 kills and had 13 digs for a double-double.
Morris had a solid day in the middle with six kills, attacking at a blistering .417 clip and posting four blocks. Savannah Cook paced the offense with 35 assists as the Panthers had 44 kills and hit .287 as a team, their second-highest hitting percentage in a match this season.
FIU trailed 9-5 to begin the match, but clawed back into the opening set, tying the frame at 14-all on a kill from Huckabey. The Panthers continued to surge as an ace from Mandi Morioka put FIU ahead 22-18. O'Brien sealed the opening frame a short time later with a kill for a 25-21 win.
Clinging to a 16-15 lead in the second set, a critical 4-0 run by the Panthers held them to seize control. Sam Houston pulled within two at 20-18, but five-straight for FIU secured the second set, 25-18.
The third set was one-sided from the outset as the Panthers led 13-5 after a service ace from Huckabey. Fittingly, senior Jones capped the victory with a kill, winning set three 25-14.
UP NEXT
The Panthers will prepare for the CUSA Championships in El Paso, Texas, which begin Nov. 22. FIU is the eight-seed and will match up with top-seeded Western Kentucky in opening round. Times and other information are to be announced at a later time.
SOCIAL MEDIA
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