MIAMI– Notching a career-high 25 kills,
Jillian Huckabey put FIU volleyball (11-9, 2-5 CUSA) on her back, as the team used her sensational effort to sweep Liberty (12-7, 4-3) at home on Friday night and extend their win streak over the Flames to seven.
As if it were a sign for the rest of the night, the Panthers and Flames were neck-and-neck for the entire first frame. FIU's biggest lead was four early, once at 14-10 after a
Teodora Skocajic kill and then again at 18-14 after a Huckabey ace. After the Flames brought it back close,
Rayne Williams ensured the Panthers closed it out with a pair of markers, winning it 25-23 despite being out-hit.
FIU survived a 29-27 marathon in the second and held off the Flames' .395 hitting percentage. A 6-0 run in the middle to go up 19-15 - featuring two Huckabey kills, two
Lana Sesar kills and one apiece from
Chiara Fabbrini and Skocajic almost was the kicker, but Liberty bounced back, tying it at 20. FIU got it back to set point up 24-21 after another Williams kill, but Liberty wasn't done, pushing it to a 26-25 deficit. Two kills and an ace from Huckabey over the next four points closed out the set emphatically.
The Flames would not go down quietly against the Panthers in the third, even after falling down 21-16 on a Williams solo block. An 8-3 run tied it at 24, but FIU took advantage of the first set where they did not trail in hitting percentage. Huckabey extended her total to 25 kills, the second Panther to do that this season, and FIU won the final set 27-25.
Huckabey's final line was 25-3-49 (.449), only joined by
Lana Sesar in double figures, who had ten. Huckabey also added two aces and seven digs.
It was a standout night for
Marta Lazzarin, who contributed 21 digs in three sets, leading the charge on the defensive side.
Ivona Lazovic and
Mariana Silva evenly split setting duties with 21 helpers apiece.
Up Next
The Panthers and Flames play again Saturday at 1:00 p.m.
Social Media
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