Nov. 16, 2001
For the second consecutive night, Florida International (22-7) played to a game five and like last night won the match in a thrilling fashion, upsetting the number one seed out of the west New Mexico State (19-10).
Nirvana Kos led FIU with 24 kills and 14 digs while New Mexico State was led by Stevi Adams with 16 kills. Adriana Fundora added 11 kills and Jennifer Owens had 13 kills for FIU. Kristin Webster had 14 kills and Angela Peterson-Lobendam had 11 kills for the Aggies.
In game one, with the score tied at 13-13 New Mexico State scored the next five points to take the lead 18-13, which they never gave up to the Golden Panthers. Game two saw FIU score the first 11 points, led by Nirvana Kos serving. The Aggies closed the lead to 18-15 but that was the closest they got to the Golden Panthers.
In game three, FIU jumped out to the 12-7 lead before the Aggies rallied to tie the game at 13-13. The Golden Panthers then fell behind 19-16 then tied it at 20-20. New Mexico State scored the next five points to open the game to 25-20 and opened it to 27-21. FIU rallied to close the lead to 29-28 but the Aggies held on for the win at 30-28.
In game four, the Golden Panthers fell behind 11-8 then scored the next nine points to take the lead 16-11 once again with Kos serving. FIU continued to open the lead to 21-15 before the Aggies closed the lead to two at 22-20. The Golden Panthers once again opened the game to a six-point lead at 27-21, holding on for the 30-25 win.
In the decisive game five, FIU jumped out to early lead 7-3 before New Mexico State tied the score at 9-9. Kos' kill gave the Golden Panthers the lead at 10-9. FIU scored the next point before the Aggies tied it at 11-11. With Kos serving, the Golden Panthers scored the next three points en route to the match win.
"I thought the play of Nirvana Kos and Debra Amundson was outstanding," said FIU head coach Cookie Stephens, who was named Sun Belt Conference Coach of the Year at Tuesday's banquet. "This was a total team effort. Every one of the players contributed in some way to the win. This win was desired by the team. They wanted this."
Florida International advances to tomorrow's (Nov. 17) Sun Belt Conference Tournament Championship match were the Golden Panthers will face the No. 1 seed out of the east, Western Kentucky. FIU is 0-8 all-time versus WKU, including two losses this season against the Hilltoppers. FIU has not won a conference championship since 1990 when they were part of the TAAC.
