EL PASO, TEXAS – FIU volleyball (18-10, 12-3 CUSA) dropped its season finale in straight sets to #RV UTEP (25-3, 15-1), officially cementing its spot as the fourth seed headed into the CUSA tournament.

After trading points through 17, the Miners nearly pulled away, but a timely 4-0 run thanks to Jillian Huckabey and Magda Stambrowska brought it back to 22-21 briefly. However, UTEP regained control, rattling off three straight points to win it 25-21.

Trailing 20-13 in the second, the Panthers locked in and nearly made a run to take the set, tying things at 23 after a Mandi Morioka ace and an opposing attack error. The home team grabbed the next two points though and took a 2-0 lead.

UTEP continued its dominance in the third frame, never allowing the Panthers to get close. Stambrowska slammed a kill to get within four at 19-15, but that was as close as FIU got for the rest of it, losing the match 3-0.

Huckabey led the team with nine kills, while Rebekah Pfefferkorn had seven. Savannah Cook had another strong day passing with 27 assists in the three sets.

FIU will turn its attention to the CUSA championships in Miami, having home cooking for an opening-round match against Liberty on Friday at 2:00.