New Mexico State Defeats FIU in Five-set Volleyball Match

FIU volleyball dropped its penultimate game of the season on Friday night to New Mexico State in five sets despite an even battle on alumni night.

FIU (16-12, 7-8 CUSA) won the first set against New Mexico State (15-13, 8-7) on November 14, 2026. The opening frame was back-and-forth early with the visiting team holding a 15-13 advantage at the media timeout. FIU then rattled off a 7-0 run with Jillian Huckabey at the service line to gain control.

Huckabey recorded two aces and a kill during the run, while Lana Sesar added a pair of kills. FIU finished the set 25-21 on a Chiara Fabbrini and Rayne Williams block assist, according to FIU Athletics.

Going up 5-1 early in the second set, FIU fell victim to a 7-0 run and never recovered. Teodora Skocajic cut the deficit to 20-18 late, but the Aggies scored three straight points up 22-20 to win 25-20, hitting almost .200 points better than FIU.

New Mexico State continued humming in the third set, hitting .355 as a team. A solo block by Sesar put FIU up 12-9, and a kill by Tiyana Cisse pushed the lead to 21-18. The Aggies responded with a late 7-0 run, securing four of the last five points on aces to win 25-21.

The Panthers responded with a large eruption in the fourth set after trailing 4-1. A 13-0 run featured three kills by Huckabey and a pair from Cisse and Skocajic to put FIU up 14-4. FIU won the set 25-17 following another block by Cisse and Williams.

Trading points in the decisive fifth set, FIU stayed close but could not get over the hump. Sesar cut the score to 10-9 on a kill, but a 4-0 spread for New Mexico State sealed the match as the Aggies took the final set 15-10.

Huckabey and Cisse tied for the team lead with 11 kills, with Cisse setting a new career-best mark. Skocajic added nine kills, Marta Lazzarin contributed 24 digs, and Williams set a new career high with seven blocks in the loss.

FIU closes its regular season at 1:00 p.m., honoring Kindyl Kilar on her senior day.