With players such as outside hitter Margherita Bianchin, libero Lina Bernier and setter Abbie Hughes, the FIU Panthers volleyball team is having what will likely be its best season since entering Conference USA in 2013.
FIU (14-7, 6-2) is fourth in the league after Sunday’s five-set win against visiting Southern Miss. FIU rallied after losing the first two sets.
With seven regular-season matches remaining, the Panthers’ 14 wins are already their most since 2015, when they won 15. The Panthers are vastly improved since last season, when they finished 6-16, 4-10.
“It has a lot to do with personnel and the type of athlete that has now become the majority of our program,” said Rita Buck-Crockett, who is in her fifth season coaching FIU.