MIAMI – The FIU volleyball program wraps up its Conference USA (CUSA) road stretch this weekend, traveling to Huntsville, Texas, to take on Sam Houston from the Bernard G. Johnson Coliseum.
Friday, Oct. 10 at Sam Houston (8-9, 0-4 CUSA)
Saturday, Oct. 11 at Sam Houston (8-9, 0-4 CUSA)
FIU (8-8, 2-2 CUSA) enters the weekend following a pair of road losses at Kennesaw State from Oct. 3–4. The Panthers dropped Friday's match in four sets before falling in a five-set battle on Saturday afternoon. With a 2-2 mark, FIU sits sixth in the CUSA standings through four conference contests.
Senior
Kira Givans continues to lead the Panthers offensively, tallying a team-high 199 kills this season. She recorded a career-high 24 kills on Saturday, Oct. 4, and has posted three consecutive matches with double-digit kills — nine total on the year. Givans, who has appeared in all 16 matches, ranks sixth in Conference USA in total kills.
Sophomore
Jillian Huckabey had a strong showing over the weekend, combining for 30 kills in the two-match series. She notched her second double-double of the season on Oct. 3 with 12 kills and 10 digs, then followed with a season-high 18 kills and nine digs on Oct. 4. The Olathe, Kansas native also leads FIU in service aces (22).
Senior libero
Mandi Morioka continues to anchor the defense, starting all 16 matches and posting a team-high 272 digs — ranking third in CUSA. She recorded 15 digs on Oct. 3 and followed with a 24-dig, nine-assist performance on Oct. 4.
Setter
Savannah Cook directs the offense with a team-best 451 assists through 15 matches. Over the weekend, she tallied 37 assists on Oct. 3 before recording her fifth double-double of the season on Oct. 4 with 44 assists and 10 digs. Cook also added a career-high six blocks.
Magda Stambrowska posted double-digit kills in both matches at Kennesaw State, with 10 on Oct. 3 and a season-high 11 on Oct. 4, along with four total blocks.
Courtney O'Brien contributed six kills and five digs on Oct. 3 and ranks third on the team in digs (145).
HISTORY WITH SAM HOUSTON
This weekend marks the sixth all-time meeting between the programs, with FIU holding an undefeated 5-0 record dating back to 2010.
The Panthers swept both matches in Miami last season and have yet to drop a set in the series.
SCOUTING THE BEARKATS
Sam Houston enters the matchup with an 8-9 overall record and an 0-4 mark in CUSA play, coming off a pair of losses at New Mexico State last weekend.
Chloe Monson leads the Bearkats with 269 kills, followed by Lauren Malone with 200 kills and 164 digs. Shaelin White anchors the defense with 313 digs, while Rachelle Reed paces the team in blocks (53).
Setter Avery Fowler leads the team with 516 assists and 21 service aces.
UP NEXT
FIU returns home to host new-member Delaware on Friday, Oct. 16 - Saturday, Oct. 17 from the Ocean Bank Convocation Center.
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.
