FIU came out on fire in the first set as the Panthers hit at a clip of .552 for the set behind senior Olga Vergun's team-leading five kills and three apiece by senior Yarimar Rosa and freshman Jovana Bjelica.

ULM was able to tie the score twice and take one lead in the initial stanza, but the Panthers proved to be too much. With the score at 20-12 in favor of FIU, ULM converted on a kill but the Panthers went on to score five straight points to take the first set by a score of 25-13.

The second set was all FIU, as the Panthers ran out to a 10-0 lead. ULM battled back and got within six at 20-14 and kept threatening but the rally came too late, as FIU came away with a 25-19 second-set victory.

The FIU defense held ULM to a hitting percentage of .038 for the second set, while hitting at a clip of .194. Each squad secured two service aces and 11 digs, but the Panthers out-blocked the War Hawks, 3-0.

The third set saw both squads come out ready to play as there were eight tie scores and three lead changes. The final tie score came at 19-19 and then the Panthers went on a 6-0 run to close out the set and take away a 25-19 set win and a 3-0 shutout match victory.

Bjelica led all scorers with 11 kills and 11 digs for her eighth career double-double, as the freshman also committed just a pair of errors for an attack percentage of .429. The Panthers hit .258 for the match while holding ULM to an attack percentage of .065 as FIU also out-blocked the opposition, 7-2.

Junior Ines Medved had a stellar offensive night for FIU, notching four kills against zero errors for a hitting percentage of .429. Rosa also had no errors and three kills for an attack percentage of .429.

Defensively, Gonzalez led the Panthers with four blocks while Bjelica's 11 digs was a team-high.

FIU returns to the court on Sunday when the Panthers take on Louisiana at 2 p.m. in Lafayette, La.

-FIU-