In Panthers play Oct. 16-18

The Panthers were out in full force the weekend of Oct. 16-18, hitting the football field, the volleyball court and swimming pool, among other fields of play. Read on to find out how they did.

In volleyball news

Junior Natalia Valentin helped the FIU volleyball team notch its 12th straight win on Oct. 18 against South Alabama. Photo: FIUSports.com.

The FIU volleyball team extended its winning streak with its 12th victory in a row after defeating South Alabama, 3-0, on Oct. 18 at U.S. Century Bank Arena at Modesto A. Maidique Campus.

The win came on the heels of the FIU vs. Troy game on Oct. 16, which also saw FIU host and dominate, winning 3-0.

The Panthers are now 19-2 on the season and remain undefeated in Sun Belt Conference (SBC) action at 9-0.

The blue-and-gold team will return to the court Oct. 23-24 to host SBC opponents UALR and Arkansas State.

Panthers falter on the football field

FIU could not rise above Troy at its first Blackout Game at FIU Stadium at MMC, losing 42-33 on Oct. 17. The Panthers are now 1-5 on the season and 1-1 in SBC action

Up next for the Panthers is an away game against Arkansas State on Oct. 24.

In men’s basketball news…

Men's basketball head coach Isiah Thomas welcomed about 20 student-athletes for the first day of practice of the season. Photo: FIUSports.com

A new era in FIU men’s basketball history began on Oct. 17 when head coach Isiah Thomas put his 2009-’10 Panthers through their first workout in preparation for the upcoming season.

The team will first hit the court away on Nov. 9 against North Carolina and will come home on Nov. 17 to play Florida Memorial at U.S. Century Arena at MMC.

The boys of soccer

While in Tennessee for a Conference USA game on Oct. 17, FIU’s men’s soccer fell 1-0 to Memphis.

The Panthers are now 4-8-0 on the season and 0-4 in conference action.

FIU will take a break from Conference USA on Oct. 19 as it hosts Florida Atlantic.

Out in the pool at BBC

Meanwhile, on Oct. 16, FIU’s swimming & diving team opened its home campaign at the Bay Vista Aquatic Center at Biscayne Bay Campus with the Panthers putting on their best performance of the season but falling short, as FAU defeated FIU, 143-96.

FIU hosted a Think Pink event at the meet, donning pink tank tops and hair ribbons, and then took part in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure on Oct. 17 as part of a weekend set aside for cancer awareness.

The Panthers opened the meet with a season-best time for the 400-meter medley relay as the foursome of sophomore Elly James, junior Erin Pavlick, junior Yesica Rojas and sophomore freshman Mariangela Macchiavello touched in 4:07.00 to take second place.

Freshman Kayla Derr and sophomore Vicnan Torres followed up that performance in the 1,000-meter free, taking second and third place, respectively, as Derr touched in 11:00.10 and Torres finished in 11:02.08.

The diving events saw freshman Jamie Stinson take first place on the 3-meter board with a score of 234.15 and finish fourth on the 1-meter board with a mark of 195.30.

For more information on the FIU vs. FAU swimming & diving meet, click here.

The Panthers will next host Florida Gulf Coast on Oct. 24 at BBC.

The girls of soccer

Senior captain Amy Jackson's third career goal lifted FIU to victory in overtime against Troy on Oct. 18. Photo: FIUSports.com.

While in Troy, Ala., for a SBC game on Oct. 18, FIU tied its program record for most wins in conference action after defeating Troy, 2-1, in overtime. Head coach Thomas Chestnutt’s team tied the 2001 and 2000 squads with six recorded victories, and improved to (8-5-3, 6-1-1).

“That’s a great accomplishment,” Chestnutt said. “We knew Troy was going to be a tough game. So congrats to the girls for sticking to it and not hanging their heads after Troy scored late in regulation.”

The win followed an SBC victory in Mobile, Ala., against South Alabama, 4-1, on Oct. 16. The score gave the blue-and-gold team its largest margin of victory on the road over a conference opponent in the last six years.

Up next, FIU comes home for Parent’s Weekend at MMC. The team will play SBC matches against Arkansas-Little Rock and Arkansas State Oct. 23 and Oct 25, respectively.

And on the tennis court

FIU’s women’s tennis team warmed up over the course of a cold Tallahassee weekend, coming away with some impressive wins at the Florida State Quad Tournament.

The Panthers won four of six doubles tennis matches on Oct. 17 against opponents from Auburn and the host Seminoles.

In singles, Mariana Muci won her second marathon match of the weekend, beating Iowa’s Lynne Poggensee-Wei, 3-6, 6-2, 10-3. Due to a back spasm, Muci was forced to retire from Oct. 18’s match against Auburn’s Caroline Thornton.

Maria Spenceley picked up the mantle, winning her two singles matches over the final two days, first, downing Iowa’s Zuzi Chmelarova, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, on Saturday and then taking care of Auburn’s Jil Hastenrath (AUB) 6-2, 7-6 (3).