Next Match:
vs. Tulane
9/4/2026 | 2:00 PM
Sep. 04 (Fri) / 2:00 PM
vs. Tulane
JACKSONVILLE, Fla.– Despite another 17-kill performance from Lana Sesar, FIU volleyball (2-2) fell to the host North Florida (3-1) in four sets on Thursday night in the UNF Invitational opener.
The Panthers held a 13-9 advantage in the opening set following a Rayne Williams kill, but North Florida answered with a decisive 5-0 run to take control. Despite four early kills from Tiyana Cisse, six FIU service errors ultimately did the Panthers in as UNF won it 25-21.
FIU had the hot hand to start the second set as Sesar continued to power the offense, notching back-to-back kills to push the Panthers ahead for the first time at 19-16. However, UNF quickly erased that, going on a 9-2 run following an overturned FIU kill to stun the Panthers’ late rally. Even though Sesar had seven kills through two, FIU lost the second 25-20.
The Panthers responded emphatically in the third. After trailing 5-2 early, FIU surged ahead on a Jillian Huckabey service ace and never looked back, turning an 11-7 spread into a commanding 15-8 lead. Sparked by Sesar, the Panthers closed the frame with a late an 11-0 run to dominate the set, 25-10. The Panthers swung at a .308 clip and took advantage of some UNF errors to win it late.
The Ospreys again jumped out to an early lead, going up 12-7 to quell FIU’s momentum. Despite staying in striking distance on the shoulders of Sesar, who got up to 17 kills, the Panthers never got over the hump, falling 25-19 and being denied in the game 3-1.
Sesar recorded her second 17-kill effort of the season, also adding 11 digs for her second double-double. Huckabey (9) and Williams (9) followed close behind her, with the latter hitting .368 and adding three blocks on the evening. Sesar, Huckabey and Ivona Lazovic each recorded a pair of aces, and Lazovic (21 ast.) and Mariana Silva (19 ast.) split setting duties evenly. Marta Lazzarin had her second 20-dig effort of the season, notching 20.
Up Next
FIU has a quick turnaround, battling Tulane for the first time since 2013 on Friday at 2:00 p.m.
Social Media
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