MIAMI – The FIU volleyball team hits the road for a two-match Conference USA series at Liberty this weekend in Lynchburg, Va.
Friday, Oct. 24 at Liberty (16-5, 4-4 CUSA)
Saturday, Oct. 25 at Liberty (16-5, 4-4 CUSA)
FIU (12-9, 6-2 CUSA) enters the weekend riding a four-match conference win streak and has won four of its last five overall. The Panthers' hot stretch includes back-to-back league sweeps at Sam Houston (Oct. 10–11) and Delaware (Oct. 17–18). FIU currently sits in a tie for fourth place in the CUSA standings alongside Kennesaw State.
This past Tuesday (Oct. 21), the Panthers dropped a five-set road match to FGCU in Fort Myers, Fla.
Senior
Kira Givans continues to lead the charge offensively with 274 kills, ranking third in Conference USA while averaging 3.65 kills per set. She tallied 17 kills at FGCU, marking her 13th double-digit effort of the season and her seventh with 10-plus kills in her last eight matches. In CUSA play, she ranks second with 124 total kills.
Sophomore
Jillian Huckabey notched her sixth double-double of the season at FGCU with 14 kills and 12 digs. The Olathe, Kansas native has reached double-digit kills in five of her last seven appearances and leads the team with 25 service aces.
Freshman
Rebekah Pfefferkorn continues to make an impact on the outside with 131 kills, including eight on Tuesday night.
Graduate middle blocker
Sofie Vogel has been a force at the net, recording 24 kills and 17 blocks over the past three matches. She posted a career-high nine blocks on Oct. 18 and followed with eight kills and six blocks at FGCU.
Senior setter
Savannah Cook anchors the attack with 643 assists on the season, ranking first in CUSA with 311 assists in conference play. She posted 46 assists and seven digs against FGCU to eclipse 3,000 career assists.
Defensively, senior libero
Mandi Morioka continues to pace the Panthers with 341 digs, the second-most in CUSA. She added 19 digs in Tuesday's five-set battle.
HISTORY WITH LIBERTY
Friday marks the fifth all-time meeting between the programs and third conference series.
FIU has won the last three meetings, including a two-match sweep last season (Oct. 29–30, 2024). The Panthers split the series in Lynchburg in 2023, winning on Oct. 21, 2023.
SCOUTING THE FLAMES
Liberty enters the weekend 16-5 overall and 4-4 in CUSA under first-year head coach Jeremy White. The Flames are coming off a series split at Middle Tennessee (Oct. 17–18).
Paige Overcash leads the team with 274 kills (tied for third in CUSA), while Jenna Otts (264) and Carly O'Brien (237) round out a balanced attack. Alison Bierwagen has dished out a team-high 603 assists, and O'Brien also leads the back row with 236 digs. Laney Daniell paces Liberty defensively with 62 blocks.
UP NEXT
FIU returns back home for a four-match homestand, beginning on Friday, Oct. 31 - Saturday, Nov. 1, facing Jacksonville State. Match on Friday is set for 6 p.m. and can be streamed live on ESPN+.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Fans are encouraged to follow the Panthers on Instagram (
@FIUVolleyball), Twitter (
@FIUVolleyball), and Facebook (
Facebook.com/FIUVolleyball) for all the latest Women's Volleyball news. General athletic news can also be found at
@FIUSports on Facebook and
@FIUAthletics on Twitter and Instagram.
