By Jenna Smith/Asst. Sports Director
After a remarkable postseason run, the Panthers fell short 3-0 (25-21, 25-22, 26-24) in the Conference USA indoor volleyball final against the Rice Owls on Sunday, Nov. 18 at Huntington, WV.
The Panthers (18-13) will conclude the 2018 season with the program record for most wins in a single season and reached the C-USA championship for the first time.
With the win for Rice (24-6), the Owls receive the conference’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
Seniors Margherita Bianchin and Nina Petranovic fueled the Panthers’ efforts with ten kills, while freshman Abbie Hughes contributed with 28 assists.
FIU began their Cinderella story tournament run when they upset the number-three seeded UTSA 3-0 (25-19, 25-16, 25-21) in the quarterfinals on Friday, Nov. 16.
Petranovic and Bianchin led the Panthers’ attack with a combined 23 kills, and Hughes facilitated the offense by recording a match-high 30 assists.
Redshirt junior Lina Bernier posted a team-high nine digs as well in FIU’s upset win over the Roadrunners.
The Panthers returned to the court on Saturday, Nov. 17 to take on the seventh-ranked Southern Miss Golden Eagles in the semifinals.
Led by Hughes’ team-high 47 assists, FIU picked up their second victory of the tournament by defeating the Golden Eagles 3-1 (25-20, 25-19, 20-25, 25-18).
The senior outside hitter posted a match-high 22 kills, while Bernier fortified the team’s defense with 15 digs.
FIU’s last visit to a conference championship game occurred in 2009 against Middle Tennessee, when the program was a member of the Sun Belt Conference.
The Panthers failed to win the final as well losing 3-1 to the Blue Raiders.
Hughes and Bianchin were named C-USA All-Tournament Team for their high-level performance throughout the tournament.
The freshman setter totaled 105 assists and averaged 10.5 assists-per-set. The Ohio native also finished with 21 digs and seven kills.
Bianchin earned 43 kills and averaged 4.30 kills-per-set while hitting at a 37.5 percentage.
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