Middle Tennessee Volleyball Faces FIU in Critical C-USA Matches

Miami, Fla. – Middle Tennessee Volleyball is set to take on Florida International University (FIU) for two important matches in Conference USA play. The Blue Raiders will compete against the Panthers on Friday, November 7 at 5 p.m. CT and again on Saturday, November 8 at 12 p.m.

The Blue Raiders aim to recover from a challenging weekend against Western Kentucky University (WKU), where they faced stiff competition. Middle Tennessee’s offensive efforts were highlighted by Michaela Dlouhá, who led the team with 21 kills last weekend, while her teammate contributed 16 kills. The squad also saw career-high performances from several players, including eight kills from Stevens and six digs from Oden.

Defensively, the Blue Raiders achieved a season-high six blocks against WKU in their first match, showcasing their strength at the net. As a team, Middle Tennessee ranks third in Conference USA for digs per set, fourth in total digs, and fifth for opponent hitting percentage. Nationally, they are 106th in team digs and 126th in opponent efficiency.

FIU comes into this weekend with a record of 16-9 under head coach Cristina Robertson, in her fourth season. The Panthers currently sit fourth in the Conference USA standings with a 10-2 conference record. They are notable for their strong offensive performance, ranking second in the conference for kills, assists, digs, and service aces. Savannah Cook leads the team as a top distributor, ranking first in assists per set.

On the other hand, Kira Givans, a senior outside hitter, has been a key player for FIU, accumulating 319 kills this season. Mandi Morioka anchors the defensive side with 404 digs, ranking third in Conference USA. Historically, Middle Tennessee holds a strong 30-14 record against FIU and won both matchups last season, entering this series on a two-match winning streak against the Panthers.

The upcoming matches will be available for streaming on ESPN+.