Duke Drops Match to FIU, 3-1

Sunday, August 31

Durham, N.C.

2 PM

Duke University

1-2,0-0ACC

FIU

2-1,0-0CUSA

FIU

Duke

Duke Drops Match to FIU, 3-1

8/31/2025 5:36:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Photo Gallery

DURHAM, N.C. – The Blue Devils closed out their opening weekend Sunday, falling 3-1 (25-22, 25-16, 20-25, 25-20) to Florida International inside Cameron Indoor Stadium. Duke drops to a 1-2 overall ledger, while FIU improves to a 2-1 record.

Freshman outside hitter Ashby Zubchevich led the offensive charge for the Blue Devils, logging a career-high 14 kills. Freshman Zoë Gillen-Malveaux hit a game-best .571 attack percentage and redshirt junior Millie Muir dished out a team-best 17 helpers. Defensively, sophomore libero Mailinh Godschall tallied 14 digs, while redshirt senior middle blocker Ngozi Iloh earned five total blocks.

How It Happened

Set One – Duke 22, FIU 25

The Panthers took set one, 25-22. FIU held a 19-14 lead until the Blue Devils tied the set at 19-19 with a five-point rally. Sophomore outside hitter Taylor Williams led the comeback attempt with four kills. However, the Panthers closed the set by winning six of the next nine points. For Duke's offense, Gillen-Malveaux and Zubchevich each logged three kills apiece.

Set Two – Duke 16, FIU 25

FIU carried its momentum from set one into the second frame, taking the 2-0 lead with a 25-16 win. The Panthers jumped out to a 20-10 lead, but Duke responded by earning four of the next five points, decreasing FIU's lead to 21-14. The Panthers held Duke to only two more points to capture the set, 25-16.

Set Three – Duke 25, FIU 20

The Blue Devils fought back in set three, claiming the frame 25-20. Duke was dominant on offense, stretching a 16-4 lead. FIU made a run towards the end of the set, decreasing the Blue Devils' advantage to 23-18, however, kills from freshman Olivia Wayne and Williams sealed the set for the Blue Devils. Iloh tallied four kills while Gillen-Malveaux, Zubchevich and Wayne all added three apiece.

Set Four – Duke 20, FIU 25

FIU claimed the match with a 25-20 triumph in the fourth set. The set was tied five times but a five-score run from FIU shifted the momentum in the Panthers' favor, putting FIU ahead 18-14. The Blue Devils claimed three of the next four points but FIU responded with four additional points. The Panthers closed the game with a kill from Jillian Huckabey. Zubchevich charged Duke's offense in the final set with six kills, while Godschall earned five digs and Ilog logged two total blocks.

Notables

Duke drops to a 1-2 record on the season, while FIU improves to a 2-1 ledger.
The Panthers cut the Blue Devils' lead in the all-time series, 3-1.
Gillen-Malveaux led the match, hitting a .571 attack percentage.
Duke totaled 11 blocks and held FIU to just two. Iloh led the match with five and Gillen-Malveaux followed with four.
The Panthers hit a .259 attack percentage while Duke posted a .188.
Gillen-Malveaux hit a career-high eight kills.
Ngozi matched her career-high five digs.
Muir logged a career-high eight digs.
For the third consecutive match, Godschall earned double-digit digs.

Quote

"I think we are a work in progress. We have to continue to try and develop as a team. I think we got to see a lot of different things this weekend with the opponents that we played, which was good. We have our work cut out for us and we have to continue to work hard every day to become the team we can be." - Head coach Jolene Nagel.

Up Next

Duke will travel to Georgia to compete in the Classic City Clash in Athens, where the Blue Devils will face Texas Tech, Alabama State and Georgia Sept. 3-5.

For more information on Duke volleyball, follow the Blue Devils on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram by searching for "DukeVB".

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