Volleyball teams losing streak reaches eight

By: Alejandro Aguirre/Contributing Writer

This past Sunday, Sept. 28, the volleyball team went to West Virginia to play Marshall University to try to snap an eight game losing streak. This didn’t pan out the way the team wished, as they lost in three straight sets. This loss stings a little more because it was a Conference USA loss, which puts the Panthers’ record at 3-12 and 0-2 in conference play. This win keeps Marshall undefeated in conference play with a 3-0 record and an overall record of 8-9. FIU looked overpowered right from the first set as the Panthers were outhit by the Thundering Herd. The team was never able to have an offensive attack as they were held to .063 hitting percentage compared to Marshall’s .268 hitting percentage.

One of the positive features to take from this loss is that for the first time this season freshman Lea Montavon led the team with 11 kills, while five other players recorded kills. This was a rare occasion because it’s junior co-captain Lucia Castro who normally leads the team in kills in the box score. Castro backed up Montavon with seven kills.

In total, six players recorded kills, but it wasn’t enough to get the win. One of the older members of the team, senior Kristine Monforte, led the team in digs with 16 as her career best. For the Panthers, it was Montavon providing the action. Representing Marshall was sophomore outside hitter Cassie Weaver. Each player recorded a double-double and it was Montavon’s second of the season. To go along with her 11 kills, she added 10 digs. Weaver slightly edged the matchup as she recorded 14 kills with a .314 hitting percentage and had 10 digs to give her the double-double.

During the first two sets of the match, the Panthers weren’t able to keep up with Marshall’s offensive tempo. Each of the two sets started off going back and forth as the team was able to keep it close and stay in the game. Marshall was able to capitalize on the errors made by the University and broke away. Every time the score began to reach double digits in the first two sets, Marshall took their game up a notch and separated themselves from the team, making it difficult for the Panthers to mount a comeback.

Marshall was able to win the first set 25-17. In the second set, there were seven ties and five lead changes. At one point, the Panthers were able to have a one point lead, but the Herd went on a 16-6 scoring run which led the team to lose the second set 25-16.

In the third set the Panthers showed a lot of fight, beginning the match 7-1 down, but were able to overcome the deficit and even take a 13-12 lead. After a few back and forth points, the score was 15-15. Afterwards, there were five more ties and four more lead changes. The Thundering Herd was able to get two consecutive kills and win the set 27-25. This set sealed the deal for Marshall and gave the University another crushing loss.

The Panthers have gotten swept in each of the last four matches, failing to win one set. This extends their losing streak to eight matches and are exactly halfway through the season. Hopefully, the team can flip this season around as they are now heading to the part of the season where the bulk of the Conference USA games will be played. The next match for the volleyball team will be this Friday, Oct. 3, against the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers at 6 p.m. from Lime Court at U.S. Century Bank Arena.