MIAMI – The FIU volleyball team wrapped up the 305 Challenge on Sunday afternoon, falling in four sets to UCF at the Ocean Bank Convocation Center.
 
Senior Kira Givans continued her strong play, leading the Panthers with 15 kills to mark her second straight double-digit performance. Courtney O'Brien added her second double-double of the season, posting 10 kills and 14 digs.
 
At the setter spot, Savannah Cook directed the attack with 31 assists, while libero Mandi Morioka collected 16 digs to pace the defense. Graduate student Sofie Vogel, making her first start of the season, provided a spark at the net with four blocks.
 
The Panthers dropped the opening two sets, 25-15 and 25-19, before responding with a 25-17 win in the third. FIU used a 7-0 scoring run, highlighted by a pair of kills from Givans, to take control at 14-8. Back-to-back errors from the Knights sealed the set in FIU's favor. UCF, however, regrouped to close out the match with a 25-16 victory in the fourth.
 
FIU finished with seven total team blocks, while showing balance offensively and defensively despite the setback.

UP NEXT
FIU heads to Athens, Ga. for the Georgia Tournament from Friday, Sept. 12 - Sunday, Sept. 14. The Panthers take on Georgia Southern on Friday, Sept. 12 at 3 p.m. from the Stegeman Coliseum.
 
SOCIAL MEDIA
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