In final match before home opener, FIU defeats ETSU; Bjelica named SBC Player of the Week

By: Eduardo Almaguer / Staff Writer

Against tough competition, the Golden Panthers held their own to split their final two games over the weekend.

The team was not able to shake off a second straight loss in the Blue Raider Tournament when they lost in three straight sets to Missouri (7-1, 0-0 Big 12) on Sept. 3.

FIU 0, MISSOURI 3

In what is becoming a trend, junior outside hitter Jovana Bjelica led the team with 13 kills. Redshirt junior Renele Forde, whose height and seniority seems to have given her an edge in the setter position, recorded a team-leading 25 assists.

The Panther’s (3-3, 0-0 SBC) offense was shut down in the first set as they were battling from behind the majority of the time. Missouri steadily built a 17-14 lead and then shut down the Panthers with an 8-3 run to win the first set.

The second set saw the Tigers jump out to an early lead over the Panthers. Refusing to go down quietly, Lakovic later slammed a kill to make it 24-20.

A Missouri error allowed FIU to creep even closer, but the Tigers eventually put the brakes on and scored a kill to win 25-21.

The third time was not the charm as FIU fell behind quickly. Though they tried mounting a comeback, the Golden Panthers could not match up and they lost the third set, along with the match, by their biggest margin of the night, 25-14.

Libero Chanel Araujo led the team with 10 digs and middle blocker Andrea Lakovic had a team-best three blocks, as well as the only service ace.

FIU 3, ETSU 1

FIU’s (4-3, 0-0 SBC) defense shined on Sept. 4 when they snapped their short, two-game losing streak against East Tennessee State University (3-5, 0-0 A-Sun) in their final match of the Blue Raider Bash Tournament.

Several Panthers had outstanding games en route to their fourth victory of the season. Bjelica notched 18 kills and 10 digs for her third double-double of the season.

In the first set, ETSU wasted no time jumping ahead of FIU. The Golden Panthers, just as eager to get back at the Buccaneers, battled back to knot the score at 5-5.

FIU worked hard to distance itself, but ETSU would not back down and battled back to tie the score again. The Buccaneers streaked with seven straight points and ultimately took the first set 25-23.
Both teams came out firing in the second set as neither team could build more than a three-point lead until the final play.

After a Buccaneer error gave the Golden Panthers the lead, FIU never looked back. Bjelica slammed a kill to tie the match 1-1 and take the set 25-21.

Both teams came out aggressive in the third set. FIU came alive in a fierce, seven-point rally to make it 19-13 and did not let the gap grow smaller than six points. FIU took the set 25-17 and led 2-1.

The team could taste the win now as FIU surged to an 18-12 lead in the fourth set, capped by a Bjelica kill. ETSU refused to go down quietly and punished the Panthers with four straight points.
With the match 24-20, Trkulja and Lakovic denied the Buccaneers a point with a block each to give them the match victory.

Forde tallied 46 assists in the match, eight more than ETSU had as a team. Junior Marija Prsa tied a career-best with 17 digs while senior middle blocker Sabrina Gonzalez logged a career-best nine blocks.

Following the game, Lakovic and Bjelica were named to the Blue Raider Bash All-Tournament team.

Bjelica was named the SBC Volleyball Player of the Week. This marks a career first for Bjelica, and the first Panther to earn that honor this season. She led the team with 76 kills in the Bash and two double-doubles.

The Golden Panthers play their home opener against Tulane on Sept. 9, with another match at home on Sept. 11 against Florida A&M.