DURHAM, N.C. — FIU's volleyball program fell to Duke in three sets on Saturday evening in Durham in its second match of the Duke Invitational.
The Panthers (0-6) battled throughout the match with the host-Blue Devils (3-3), particularly in the third set, ripping off a six-point run to go in front 25-24. Duke then responded with a late three-point spurt to secure a 28-26 victory to close out the contest. The Blue Devils won the opening two sets by identical 25-21 scores.
Jillian Huckabey racked up 14 kills for FIU and hit .313 I the match. This is the freshman's third match with 14 or more kills and gives her 35 total in the Panthers' two matches in Durham. Courtney O'Brien and Anna Feldkamp each chipped in eight kills in support.
Mandi Morioka had 12 digs to lead FIU defensively. As a team, the Panthers' 50 digs are their most in the three-set match this season. Savannah Cook dished out 29 assists and the Panthers totaled 36 kills.
In the opening set, Huckabey had a string of three-straight kills, the last of which pulled FIU within one at 12-11. O'Brien then tied up the match at 15-all with kill, assisted by Colby Lane. Duke scored the next five points to go ahead 20-15 and used this margin to finish off the frame, 25-21.
FIU held a 15-9 lead in set two after a service ace from Huckabey, which capped a run of five-straight points. After a Blue Devil service error that put the Panthers up 17-11, Duke answered with seven in-a-row to go up 18-17.
Feldkamp made it 19-19 with a kill, but Duke scored six of the last eight points to secure the 25-21 win.
The Panthers were down 17-10 in the final frame before a 5-0 run, which featured two Feldkamp kills, to pull within two. Facing match point for Duke, down 24-20, FIU fended off four Blue Devil chances and took a 25-24 lead.
The Panthers were also ahead 26-25 before three critical points for Duke to end the match.
UP NEXT
FIU takes on Davidson at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday, Sept. 8 to close out the Duke Invitational.
SOCIAL MEDIA
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