BOCA RATON, Fla.– FIU volleyball is set to kick off the 2026 campaign under new head coach
Flavia Siqueira with a three-game weekend slate in Boca Raton at Florida Atlantic. Friday's games will be televised on FLOSports and aired on FIUSports.com with
Corey Brooks on the call, and Saturday's game will be televised on FAUSports.tv.
Opening Serve
FIU volleyball will have a twinbill on Friday (Stetson, 12:30 p.m. and Merrimack, 4:30 p.m.) and a rivalry matchup on Saturday with Florida Atlantic at 2:00 p.m. to open the season. The Panthers went 2-0 in exhibition contests, taking down local opponents Miami and Barry.
Notable Storylines
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Jillian Huckabey, one of two returners (
Kindyl Kilar) from last year's squad, was named Preseason All-Conference by the league. An All-CUSA Second Team honoree last year, Huckabey had a strong season for 2025's 20-win squad, finishing second in kills (271) and digs (292).
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Marta Lazzarin joins FIU with pedigree, coming over with Siqueira from Georgia State, where she was named 2025 Sun Belt Libero of the Year. Lazzarin, who spent the spring season at Tennessee, was also named All-SBC First Team and AVCA Southeast Region Honorable Mention during her 2025 campaign. The libero ended last season fifth in the NCAA with 5.25 digs per set, finishing with 535 total.
- Three other Panthers follow Siqueira from GSU -
Kamryn Itzen,
Marla Valentin and
Rayne Williams.
- The Panthers will have 10 players who hail from outside the United States this season, their most on the team since they had 11 in 2021. The Panthers brought in several European club standouts, including
Tiyana Cisse,
Chiara Fabbrini and
Lana Sesar.
- Two familiar coaches will grace the bench this season -
Chen Abramovich, who is in her second year, and
Camilo Guerci, who returns back to the bench after spending 2017-21 on staff.
- FIU was placed fifth in the preseason poll.
Social Media
Fans are encouraged to follow the Panthers on Instagram (@FIUVolleyball), Twitter (@FIUVolleyball), and Facebook (Facebook.com/FIUVolleyball) for all the latest Women's Volleyball news. General athletic news can also be found at @FIUSports on Facebook and @FIUAthletics on Twitter and Instagram.
