Saturday, October 26, 2002

FIU defeats Denver, 3-2, to move to within one of New Orleans

IU wins a key Sun Belt Conference match over Denver, 3-2 (30-25, 30-25, 25-30, 15-30, 17-15), in Golden Panther Arena. Jennifer Owens led the team with a match high 19 kills and .455 attack percentage.

Adriana Fundora was right behind at 18 kills and seven digs. FIU (7-17, 2-7 Sun Belt) posted four players in double figure digs. Charlyn Ball-Llovera and Vanessa Gonzalez-Vinas recorded 15 digs, while Elizabeth Baldwin and Betsy Moreland added 13.

Denver (3-16, 1-7 Sun Belt) was led by Olympia Hughes' 14 kills and Ashly Ball's 46 set assists.

The deciding game five was a tight contest, as Owens put FIU ahead 14-12, with two consecutive kills. The Pioneers staved off two match points before FIU used two blocks by Debra Amundson, Ball-Llovera and Oksana Zablueva to put the match away.

The win vaults the Golden Panthers to just one match behind eight place New Orleans in the standings. The top eight teams make the conference tournament, which is being hosted by FIU on November 21-23.

FIU is slated to play at Western Kentucky next Friday in another Sun Belt Conference match.