Volleyball home opener Sept. 9

The women of FIU volleyball will show off their mad skills Friday, Sept. 9, at the team’s home opener vs. Tulane. Match time is 6:30 p.m. in the U.S. Century Bank Arena at Modesto A. Maidique Campus. Students get in free with their FIU OneCard.

The team kicked off its 38th season Aug. 26-28 at the Cal Molten Classic, defeating Fairfield and U.C. Riverside each by 3-0 scores before falling to then-No. 3 California, 3-0. The victor over the Stags improved FIU’s record in season openers to 5-2 under head coach Danijela Tomic, while the 2-0 start to the season marks the fifth such start in her seven seasons. The two-straight sweeps to open a campaign marks the second time FIU has accomplished the feat during Tomic’s tenure (last in 2008).

The Panthers travel to Murfreesboro, Tenn., for the Blue Raider Bash, hosted by Sun Belt Conference foe Middle Tennessee, Sept. 2-4. FIU will play four matches in three days, beginning with a double feature on Friday versus Austin Peay (1 p.m.) and Auburn (6 p.m.). The Panthers will then go up against Missouri at 8:30 p.m. ET on Saturday before closing out tournament play versus East Tennessee State at 11 a.m. on Sunday.