The FIU beach volleyball team is only 12 weeks away from the start of the 2016 regular season. Each week leading up to the season opener on March 4^th, a different beach player will be featured in this weekly series. This week, Sand Panthers introduces sophomore Estefanie Bethancourt.
 
Bethancourt is one of the most enjoyable players to be around. As the other half of the Guatemalan duo, Tefi is the newest champion on the roster.
 
As a freshman, Tefi didn't play much, as was the case for most underclassmen last season. Standing 5-foot-9, Bethancourt is FIU's shortest player which places her at an immediate disadvantage. Still, defying the odds, she was invited to attend the 2015 AVCA National Championships in Gulf Shores, Ala., as an alternate player.
 
Bethancourt's beach career began two years ago in Guatemala. Bored by indoor volleyball, she asked her best friend, sophomore Natalia Giron to join her on the sand. Fast forward to now, Nati and Tefi are both Division I collegiate athletes at FIU and expect spots in the top-10 to represent the beach squad. The duo have been featured in several NORCECAs tournaments and Central American Championships. They have even represented Guatemala as the Junior Olympic team. Recently, the pair brought home their first gold medal from the Central American Cup hosted by Panama.
 
Nati has quickly evolved into one of FIU's best players, but Tefi has no intentions of being left behind. She fully anticipates a spot in the top-10 this upcoming season.
 
The beach team has a reputation of recruiting internationally, as do most teams at FIU. International beach volleyball is very different from beach ball in the states. The style is different and American players are more cut-throat. Tefi has noticed the difference too. She admits that USA players are great and have many different styles. International players, she explains, tend to play the same style, but are slightly more experienced. Competing in NORCECAs, Tefi sees the same opponents frequently (USA, Canada, Cuba, Puerto Rico, etc.).
 
"Those countries usually send the same teams. We all know each other," she explained.
 
With the knowledge of their competition, Tefi decided to bring some of the styles she has learned at FIU to the Central American Cup last month. The decision resulted in a gold medal.
 
Embracing different styles of play is what has accelerated Bethancourt's evolution on the sand. She is constantly trying new moves she sees from her competitors and fellow Panthers. Tefi likes to stick to her strengths, but she does see the value in having several options on the court. She does not think the team will lose a step this season due to the graduation of six, top-10 players last year. Bethancourt believes that last year's underclassmen are poised to fill in the shoes of those who have moved on to professional careers.
 
Tefi aspires to play beach volleyball professionally. She has already competed at the Junior Olympics and hopes to play at the Olympic Games for Guatemala in the near future.
 
For the time being, Tefi is studying Fine Arts and wants to become a fashion designer someday.
 
"I love art. I love to draw and paint," Bethancourt said. "I like to read a lot too."
 
Besides volleyball, Bethancourt is passionate about her family.
 
"I love them so much," Bethancourt said. It is hard to be so far from them, but I know they all are proud of me and always have my back."
 
Fans may not realize it, but Tefi is quite a comedic figure. When she isn't on the court, Bethancourt is usually making jokes about anything including herself. When asked what fun fact she would like to reveal to her fans, she instantly lit up and proceeded to explain how she prefers eating cereal out of a cup, instead of a bowl.
 
Each week on Sand Panthers, featured players are asked one random question, posed by the previous Panther to appear on the weekly series. Likewise, they pose a question, which is to be answered by the next player featured on Sand Panthers (without knowing who it is). Last week, sophomore Kari Peterson asked the question: If you had to sing karaoke in front of the whole school, what song would it be and how would you dance to it?
 
Tefi was very excited to answer, "It would definitely be 'Sorry' by Justin Bieber. That's the song our team always sings in the locker room.  And I would just go bananas dancing."
 
Continue following Sand Panthers every Wednesday. Next week, Sand Panthers will welcome Knoxville-native, junior Morgan Crawley.