MIAMI, Fla. – FIU outscored Missouri State by just three total points over four sets Friday but came out a 3-1 (26-24, 25-20, 15-25, 25-19) winner to spoil the Bears' Conference USA debut inside Ocean Bank Convocation Center.
 
Missouri State (5-7, 0-1 CUSA) reached double figures in blocks for the fifth time this season with 11 stuffs, freshman Hannah Gardner recorded her second kill-assist double-double of the yar with 11 and 14, respectively, while Lizanyela Lopez (9), Rilynn Finley (9) and Florida native Jenna Walters (8) rounded out a balanced offense.
 
Lopez had six blocks and Lexi Weinberg added five in her home state. Brooke Eslinger led MSU with 12 digs and Riley Ourth reached double digits for the first time this year with 11.
 
The opening set saw the lead change hands seven times, with Lopez kills making it 21-all and 23-22 in favor of the Bears. MoState fought off one FIU (7-6, 1-0) set point before a second was overturned on review to hand the Panthers the opening win.
 
FIU used an 8-1 run to lead 13-7 in the second period and held off a late MSU charge thanks in large part to a 16-9 kill advantage.
 
The Bears seized control of the third set with a 10-0 run that included three kills and a block by Gardner to extend the match, hitting .342 in the set compared to .032 for the Panthers.
 
In the fourth, FIU never trailed, keeping its margin from 2-5 until the final point after gaining an early 7-3 lead.
 
The Panthers led 52-44 in kills, .201-.169 in efficiency, 59-51 in digs and 7-4 in aces.
 
The Bears and Panthers meet again at 11 a.m. Central on Saturday.