Both teams came out strong as FIU took the first set, 25-18, and New Orleans came away with a second-set win by a score of 25-22.

With the match score tied at 1-1, the Panthers dominated in the third set, jumping out to a 17-9 lead. New Orleans battled back but FIU out-scored the Privateers, 9-7, to close out the stanza to take a 25-16 set victory.

Ahead 2-1 for the match, FIU fell behind early in the fourth set as New Orleans ran out to a 15-8 advantage. The Panthers got within five at 21-16, but the Privateers went on to prevail, coming away with 25-18 fourth-set win to tie the match at 2-2.

The fifth set saw the Panthers take control as FIU out-scored New Orleans, 9-3, to begin the stanza.  The Privateers battled back before the Panthers extended their lead to 13-6. An FIU attack error gave New Orleans a point to put the score at 13-7 but seniors Olga Vergun and Yarimar Rosa combined for a block to once again give FIU a seven-point lead at 14-7.

With the Panthers in match-point position, junior Natalia Valentin then connected with Rosa for a kill as FIU came away with a 15-7 fifth-set win and a 3-2 match victory.

Three Panthers notched double-doubles in the hard-fought, five-set win, as freshman Jovana Bjelica secured 16 kills and 15 digs, Vergun recorded 10 kills and 14 digs, and Valentin tallied 54 assists and 17 digs. Valentin's marks were FIU team-bests for the night.

Rosa was one of four FIU players to record double-digit kills on the night with a team-high 21 kills while also contributing nine digs, four blocks and a pair of assists.

Sophomore Andrea Lakovic led the Panther defense with five blocks to go along with 10 kills and an assist.

FIU returns to the hardwood on Saturday afternoon as the Panthers take on ULM at 4 p.m. in Monroe, La. The Panthers will then take on Louisiana on Sunday at 2 p.m. in Lafayette, La.

-FIU-