COLUMBIA, S.C. — FIU's volleyball program was defeated by Wake Forest and South Carolina on Friday to open up the South Carolina Invitational.
The Panthers (1-8) opened up the day with a 10 a.m. match against Wake Forest. FIU won the first two sets before falling in five sets to the Demon Deacons (4-3).
FIU took on host-South Carolina in the nightcap and was downed by the Gamecocks (7-1) in straight sets. The Panthers have a quick turnaround with an 11 a.m. tilt against Stetson on Saturday morning in Columbia to close out their weekend.
Wake Forest
FIU raced out to a 7-2 lead in the first set, capped by a kill from Jillian Huckabey. With the score tied at 14-all, the Panthers took advantage of four-straight Demon Deacon errors to go up 18-14. FIU fended off a late Wake run to take the opening set, 25-23.
In the second set, Huckabey delivered back-to-back kills to open up a 13-9 lead. Wake Forest got within one a few times down the stretch, but FIU took the drama 25-23 and a 2-0 lead in the match.
Set three was back-and-forth throughout as neither team held more than a three-point advantage. Trailing 23-22, FIU allowed the final two Wake Forest points, falling 25-22.
The Demon Deacons got out to an 8-1 lead in the fourth to seize the momentum. The Panthers came all the way back, however, tying the set at 23-all on an ace from Savannah Cook. Wake Forest took the final two points again to win the frame, 25-23.
FIU trailed 10-4 in the fifth and got within two, down 14-12, before Wake Forest finished off the win, 15-12.
Huckabey had 16 kills while Courtney O'Brien had 14 and 13 digs. Cook racked up 41 assists and 18 digs. Colby Lane and Mandi Morioka each had 17 digs.
South Carolina
FIU trailed from the outset and the Gamecocks cruised to a 25-7 first set win. The Panthers kept it close in set two, but a late run from South Carolina secured the set, 25-17.
In set three, FIU was facing match-point down 24-19 before it reeled off seven-straight tallies to force a fourth-set. The Panthers capped off set three 26-24 with a kill from Anna Feldkamp.
Kindly Kilar tied the fourth set at 8-8 as both sides battled for the lead. South Carolina went on a 17-5 run to close to the match to earn the four-set victory.
O'Brien led the Panthers with nine kills, adding 10 digs. Kira Givens posted eight kills and a .438 attack percentage. Feldkamp finished with seven kills on the evening. Morioka had 13 digs to lead the defensive effort.
UP NEXT
FIU takes on Stetson at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 14 to close out the South Carolina Invite.
SOCIAL MEDIA
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