FIU Prevails through a tough Weekend defeating WKU and MTSU

This weekend's matches had upset written all over them as FIU was ridding a high of consecutive victories and Conference powerhouses (Western Kentucky and Middle Tennessee) were lying in wait to ambush FIU and crush this special season.







Coach Tomic obviously had the team focused with the task at hand because FIU came out victorious on both matches.








BOWLING GREEN, Ky. - The FIU volleyball team defeated Sun Belt Conference rival Western Kentucky, 3-1, on Friday night at E.A. Diddle Arena in Bowling Green, Ky., as the Panthers won their 18th straight victory to improve to 25-2 (15-0 SBC) on the season. The 15 conference wins equal the most in the program's history, a mark set by last year's squad.

Rosa recorded a double-double with 20 kills and 14 digs, both team-best marks, while Bjelica tallied 19 kills against just two errors for an attack percentage of .486. Sophomore Andrea Lakovic had a stellar outing on both sides of the net, notching seven kills against a single error for a hitting percentage of .429 and recorded three solo blocks and three block assists. Bjelica added a team-high four blocks.
Valentin recorded 35 assists and FIU's lone service aces of the evening while Araujo added 10 digs.

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - The FIU volleyball team clinched the Sun Belt Conference regular season title on Saturday night at Alumni Memorial Gym with a 3-1 (26-24, 25-22, 22-25, 26-24) victory over Middle Tennessee. The Panthers are winners of 19 straight matches and improve to 26-2 (16-0 SBC) on the season with the win. The 16 conference wins is also a new school record, breaking the previous record of 15 set in 2008.

Three Panthers reached double digits in kills on the night, as Rosa recorded 21 kills and Vergun and Bjelica added 18 and 14 kills, respectively. Valentin tallied 52assists while Vergun led the FIU defense with six blocks. Sophomore Andrea Lakovic had another outstanding night as she tallied four kills compared to zero errors for a hitting percentage of .500. She also added a pair of block assists.

Be sure to make it to the U.S. Century Arena this Wednesday @ 6:30PM for FIU's second to last home match of the season vs. up and coming Florida Gulf Coast University.