MIAMI – The No. 4 seed FIU volleyball program came up just short in its bid for a CUSA title, falling in a five-set thriller to No. 2 seed Western Kentucky in the CUSA Championship match Sunday afternoon inside the Ocean Bank Convocation Center.
 
FIU (20-12) held a 2–1 lead heading into the fourth set, but the Hilltoppers rallied to take the frame, 25–23, before edging out the Panthers in a nail-biting fifth set, 16–14. FIU led 14–12 in the final frame, but a decisive 4–0 Western Kentucky run sealed the match and the championship.
 
Sunday marked FIU's second appearance in the CUSA Championship match and first since 2018.
 
Three Panthers registered double-digit kills in the battle. Freshman Rebekah Pfefferkorn led the offense with 16 kills and six digs. Sophomore Jillian Huckabey added 14 kills, 11 digs, and three blocks, securing her eighth double-double of the season and 14th multi-kill outing of the year.
 
Senior middle blocker Magda Stambrowska delivered one of her best performances of the season, posting a season-high 13 kills along with eight blocks—matching her season best.
 
Senior setter Savannah Cook paced the offense with 53 assists, marking her second match this season with 50-plus assists. Her previous high came on Oct. 25 at Liberty, where she recorded a career-high 59 assists.

Libero Mandi Morioka anchored the back row with a team-high 15 digs.
 
Following the tournament, Cook, Morioka, and Pfefferkorn were each named to the CUSA All-Tournament Team for their outstanding performances.

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