MIAMI, Fla.  – The Savannah State University women's volleyball team (0-2) fell to Florida International University (3-1) 3-0 (10-25, 16-25, 16-25) Thursday to open the Panther Fest Tournament.
 
Freshman outside hitter Norian Ceballos Plaza led the team with six kills, while freshman setter Ashley Jordan and sophomore setter Salma Mia Gonzalez Sosa each recorded seven assists.  Jordan added three blocks and two kills, while junior Liz Domary Ortiz Munoz led the team with 11 digs.
 
Sophomore middle blocker Tyran Chenault added four kills and three blocks, while freshman middle blocker connected on all three attempts for a perfect 1.000 hitting percentage,
 
FIU scored 22 of the first 30 points of the first set to take a 22-8 lead, but back-to-back points by SSU cut the lead to 22-10.  The Panthers scored the final three points to win the set and to take a 1-0 match lead.
 
The Panthers scored five of the first nine points of the second stanza for a point lead, 5-4, but FIU scored 17 of the next 24 points to increase the lead to 11 points, 22-11.  The Lady Tigers scored the next four points to cut the lead to seven points, 22-15, but FIU scored three of the final four points for the set win and to take a 2-0 match lead.
 
The final frame was close at the beginning as the Panthers held a three-point lead, 13-10, but FIU scored 12 of the final 18 points to win the set and the match.
 
The Panthers were led by Margherita Bianchin with 14 kills and with a .520 hitting percentage, Abbie Hughes with 31 assists and seven digs and Line Bernier with 12 digs.
 
The Lady Tigers finish the tournament with a doubleheader Friday with University of Delaware at 9:30 a.m. and Chicago State University at 3:30 p.m. before hosting The Citadel Wednesday for SSU's home opener.
 
Short Box Score (Match)
2017 Savannah State Volleyball
SSU vs FIU (Aug 30, 2018 at Miami, Fla.)
 
FIU def. SSU 25-10,25-16,25-16
 
  SSU (0-2) (Kills-aces-blocks) - CEBALLOS PLAZA,Noria 6-0-1;
  CHENAULT,Tyran 4-0-3; BROWN,Jeilyn 3-0-1; JORDAN,Ashley 2-0-3;
  GONZALEZ,Salma 2-0-0; FULLER,Oneillia 1-0-1; TATUM,Karissa 1-0-0;
  SCOTT,Jamese 0-0-2; WELLS,Gabrielle 0-0-1; ORTIZ MUNOZ,Liz 0-1-0;
  Totals 19-1-6.0. (Assists) - . (Dig leaders) - ORTIZ MUNOZ,Liz 11;
  CEBALLOS PLAZA,Noria 4
 
  FIU (3-1) (Kills-aces-blocks) - BIANCHIN, Margherita 14-3-0; HUDSON,
  Chelsea 6-0-4; HENDERSON, Sidney 6-0-3; KLINGER, Ronja 4-1-0; KLINGER,
  Dorina 3-0-0; HUGHES, Abbie 3-0-0; PETRANOVIC, Nina 2-1-0; ERTELTOVA,
  Emma 1-0-0; THELLE, Helene 0-2-0; BERNIER, Lina 0-2-0; Totals
  39-9-4.0. (Assists) - HUGHES, Abbie 31. (Dig leaders) - BERNIER, Lina
  12; HUGHES, Abbie 7
 
  Site: Miami, Fla. (Ocean Bank)
  Date: Aug 30, 2018   Attend: 112   Time: 1:11   
  Referees: James Fales, Danelle Clark
  Line judges: Dave Greenlee
 
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