MIAMI (March 2, 2016) – The FIU beach volleyball team will host the Fort Lauderdale Invitational this weekend at Fort Lauderdale Beach. The No.6-ranked Panthers will take on New Orleans and LSU on Friday, March 4 and Jacksonville on Saturday, March 5.
 
Last season, the beach team went a program-best, 20-3 and were ranked as high as third in the nation. The Panthers went 2-2 at the 2015 AVCA National Championships, sweeping (No.6) Florida State, 5-0, and defeating (No.8) Stetson, 3-2.
 
Looking at the Privateers: New Orleans is coming off a rough inaugural season last year, going 0-24. FIU defeated the Privateers, 5-0, not dropping a single set in any of the matches. FIU is 1-0 all-time against New Orleans and will open the season against them at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, March 4.
 
Looking at the Tigers: LSU is coming off a 14-9 season. The Tigers, as well as FIU, joined the Coastal Collegiate Sports Association (CCSA) over the off-season. The 12:30 p.m. matchup will be the first CCSA conference matchup of the year for both squads. Sophomore, Mandi Orellana and senior, Katie Lindelow were awarded preseason CCSA all-conference honors. The Panthers are 3-0 all-time against LSU.
 
Looking at the Dolphins: Jacksonville had a disappointing season, losing their first two matches at the A-SUN Championships last year. FIU will take on Jacksonville on Saturday, March 5. The Panthers are 2-0 all-time against the Dolphins.
 
Panther fans, come to Fort Lauderdale beach as your FIU Panthers take on the New Orleans, LSU, and Jacksonville. Play begins on Friday, March 4 at 9:00 a.m. Your Panthers kick the season off at 11:00 a.m.
 
 
Fort Lauderdale Beach:
1140 Seabreeze Blvd.,
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316
 
Parking and tournament schedule can be found in the link above.


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Fans are encouraged to follow the Panthers on Twitter (@FIUVolleyball) and become a fan on Facebook (Facebook.com/FIUVolleyball) for all the latest FIU volleyball news. Follow all of FIU's 18 athletic teams on Google (FIU Athletics), Twitter (@FIUAthletics), Facebook (Facebook.com/FIUSports), YouTube (FIUPanthers), and Instagram (FIUathletics).

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About FIU Athletics: FIU Athletics is home to more than 400 student-athletes in 18 different sports. Athletic events are played in seven different venues on FIU's campuses (Modesto A. Maidique and Biscayne Bay), including FIU Arena and Ocean Bank Field at FIU Stadium.

About FIU: Florida International University is recognized as a Carnegie engaged university. It is a public research university with colleges and schools that offers more than 180 bachelor's, master's and doctoral programs in fields such as engineering, international relations, architecture, law and medicine. As one of South Florida's anchor institutions, FIU contributes $9.8 billion each year to the local economy. FIU is Worlds Ahead in finding solutions to the most challenging problems of our time. FIU emphasizes research as a major component of its mission. FIU has awarded over 200,000 degrees and enrolls more than 54,000 students in two campuses and three centers including FIU Downtown on Brickell, FIU@I-75, and the Miami Beach Urban Studios. FIU also supports artistic and cultural engagement through its three museums: the Patricia & Phillip Frost Art Museum, the Wolfsonian-FIU, and the Jewish Museum of Florida-FIU. FIU is a member of Conference USA and has over 400 student-athletes participating in 18 sports. For more information about FIU, visit http://www.fiu.edu/.