JACKSONVILLE, Fla.– Once again riding the hot hand of freshman
Lana Sesar, FIU volleyball (2-3) nearly took down Tulane (3-1), but could not win the final set, dropping a five-set thriller to the Green Wave in Jacksonville.
Despite being outhit, FIU was resourceful in the opener, recording 16 kills during the set, their highest during the match. With eight kills from Sesar and a trio of service errors from Tulane, FIU took the first stanza 25-22.
Jillian Huckabey delivered the keynote swing to close it out.
FIU had a hard time finding its footing in the next two sets, falling down 9-3 in the second and as much as 21-11. Tulane swung a lights-out .552, recording just one single error on 29 swings and 17 kills, stunning the Panthers in a 25-17 win. The Panthers hit just .129 on the other side.
Errors plagued FIU in the third set, recording eight of them and just 12 kills. FIU did mount a resurgence later on thanks to Sesar and Huckabey, tying it at 19-19 after back-to-back Sesar slams and a
Kamryn Itzen marker to make it 20-20, but the Panthers never got the lead, dropping it 25-22.
The Panthers responded in kind with a solid fourth to even it up, going ahead 12-6 on a Sesar kill and two more aces from her. Itzen kept the strong stretch going to push it to 17-8, and Huckabey notched back-to-back scores to get to set point. A small run from Tulane ensued, but
Marla Valentin quickly put an end to that as the Panthers won 25-20.
FIU never got it going in the final set, despite pulling to within two and even one late. Sesar made it a 12-10 deficit and then the Panthers rattled off three straight points to stave off the match briefly, but a Tulane kill closed out the set 15-13 and the match 3-2.
Sesar had a stellar performance, recording a season-high 26 kills and 16 digs, also recording three aces and two total blocks. Sesar's 26 kills are the most kills by an FIU player since Fiorella Murillo had 29 on 10/11/19 vs. Charlotte and the most in a double-double performance since Lucia Castro had 27 and 15 digs on 9/12/14 vs. South Dakota State.
Huckabey had 12 kills to join her in double digits, also recording a double-double, while
Ivona Lazovic led the Panthers with 29 assists and three aces as well.
Rayne Williams had five total blocks, and Marta
Lazzarin led the Panthers with 18 digs.
Up Next
FIU will have to flush today's effort as they take on Duke Saturday at 11:00 a.m.
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.
