FIU volleyball defeats Denver in SBC Championship quarterfinals

A trio of Panthers recorded double-doubles on Nov. 17 as No. 4 seed FIU defeated No. 5 seed Denver, 3-1, in the 2011 Sun Belt Conference Championship quarterfinals at U.S. Century Bank Arena.

FIU hosting the Sun Belt Conference Volleyball Championships at the U.S Century Bank Arena through Nov.19.

With the win, FIU improves to 20-9 on the year. The Panthers have now reached the 20-win plateau for seven-consecutive seasons. Denver ends the 2011 campaign with a mark of 13-16.

Junior Jovana Bjelica led all scorers with 18 kills, also adding a career-high-tying 17 digs to mark her 11th double-double of the season. Junior Marija Prsa chipped in with 15 kills and 11 digs to register her third-straight double-double and seventh of the campaign, while senior Andrea Lakovic posted a season-high 16 kills and a team-high-tying two service aces on the night.

Click here for a play-by-play of the game.

FIU will face No. 1 seed WKU on Nov. 18 in the SBC Championship semifinals, as the Panthers compete in their sixth-straight conference tournament semifinal contest. First serve is set for 7:30 p.m. at U.S. Century Bank Arena.

Live stats and live web streaming for both of Friday’s semifinal matches can be accessed at www.sunbeltsports.org. For ticket information, call 305-FIUGAME.