Blue Raiders fall to FIU 3-1

Saturday, November 7

Alumni Memorial Gym

7:00 PM

Middle Tennessee

Florida International

Photo by: Bradley Lambert

11/7/2009 6:23:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

By: MT Athletic Communications

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Middle Tennessee lost a 3-1 (24-26, 22-25, 25-22, 26-24) nailbiter on Saturday night to Sun Belt East Division leader Florida International. Senior Ashley Mead led the Blue Raiders throughout the night posting a .424 with 19 kills. Mead also guided the net defense with seven block assists and one solo block. Sophomore Stacy Oladinni and junior Izabela Kozon each had 14 kills with Oladinni recording a .600 hitting percentage. The Blue Raiders had 58 total kills with a .320 hitting percentage while defensively having 42 digs as senior Ashley Waugh and Kozon each had 12 digs. Senior Janay Yancey also guided the net defense with seven block assists and one solo block while the team had 19 total blocks. Senior Leslie Clark posted six block assists of her own and guided the offense with 51 total blocks. FIU had 63 total kills for a .268 hitting percentage while Yarimar Rosa knocked down 21 kills with a .395 hitting percentage. At the break, Middle Tennessee had knocked down 29 kills for a .322 hitting percentage while FIU had 32 kills for a .279 attack percentage and a 2-0 lead in the match. Mead led the team with eight kills while Rosa had 12 kills with a .474 attack percentage for the Golden Panthers. In the third set, the two teams battled but the Blue Raiders pulled ahead by two and then held on for the win after a service ace by Clark kept them alive in the match. Mead had 13 kills in the match for a .375 hitting percentage while Kozon had 12 after the third set. Middle Tennessee will be back in action next weekend when it travels to Alabama to round out the regular season. The team will first face South Alabama in Mobile on Friday, Nov. 13 before playing Troy in Troy on Saturday, Nov. 14.