Friday, November 15, 2002

FIU loses key match to Arkansas State

IU loses key match to Arkansas State, 3-2 (30-22, 31-29, 24-30, 28-30, 11-15), at Golden Panther Arena. Adriana Fundora recorded her fourth 20-kill match and 11th double-double, with 20 kills and 13 digs.

Jennifer Owens (18), Oksana Zablueva (16) and Charlyn Ball-Llovera (10) also registered double-figure kills for FIU, and Betsy Moreland added a match-high 57 set assists.

FIU took game one, 30-22, with the Golden Panthers taking an 18-9 advantage in kills, led by Fundora's five. Zablueva had three of her five service aces in the game.

Game two also went to FIU, but in much different fashion. The Indians took a 27-21 lead, before the Golden Panthers charged back with six kills to take the game, 31-29.

Arkansas State used 13 attack errors from FIU to take game three, 30-24. The Golden Panthers out attacked the Indians, 48-32, but ASU has only three errors in the game.

Owens led the FIU charge in game four, with six kills, but ASU used two errors on the Golden Panthers to end the game, 30-28.

After game five was tied at three, Arkansas State led the rest of the way, using six of its seven kills to build a 11-7 margin. The Indians took the game and match, with a 15-11 victory.

The loss means the Golden Panthers (8-21, 2-11 Sun Belt) will not reach the Sun Belt Conference Tournament, as the eighth spot will go to either Arkansas State (10-20, 4-10 Sun Belt) or Denver. FIU hosts the tournament from November 21-23 at Golden Panther Arena.

FIU will next play host to Arkansas-Little Rock on Sunday at 1 p.m. at Golden Panther Arena.