MIAMI – The FIU volleyball program opened its home slate with a strong performance, defeating Stetson, 3-1, on Friday night at the Ocean Bank Convocation Center in the 305 Challenge.

The victory marked FIU's third straight win, improving its record to 3-1 — the program's best start under fourth-year head coach Cristina Robertson and strongest since the 2018 season.

The Panthers controlled the opening two sets, edging the Hatters 25-23 in back-to-back frames. Stetson responded with a 25-17 win in the third before FIU closed out the match with a dominant fourth set. The Panthers jumped ahead 7-2 after a six-point run and extended the lead to 15-6 behind the offensive surge of freshman Rebekah Pfefferkorn, who later delivered three of FIU's final four points. Emma Beretich sealed the home-opening victory with the match-clinching kill.

Pfefferkorn led the attack with a season-high 18 kills, pacing an offense that tallied 62 kills on the night. Courtney O'Brien followed with 15 kills and 12 digs, recording her first double-double of the season. Beretich added eight kills, while Magda Stambrowska and Kira Givans contributed seven apiece.

Setter Savannah Cook directed the offense with a season-best 47 assists to go along with 10 digs for her second double-double of the year. Defensively, senior libero Mandi Morioka — the reigning CUSA Defensive Player of the Week — anchored the back line with 20 digs.

FIU finished with a .246 hitting percentage on 167 total attacks, while also collecting 59 assists.

UP NEXT
FIU takes on Drake on Saturday, Sept. 6 inside the Ocean Bank Convocation Center at 2:30 p.m.. It will be streamed live on ESPN+.

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