MIAMI (January 30, 2018) – The FIU women's beach volleyball team is coming off one of its most successful seasons in the program's short history, and that success has allowed Panthers' Head Coach Rita Buck-Crockett to continue to bring in quality talent from not only across the country, but internationally as well; talent that will continue to keep the Blue and Gold in the upper echelon as one of the nation's top beach programs.  
 
The Panthers finished the 2017 campaign with a 25-16 record, and an 8-5 mark in Coastal Collegiate Sports Association play, advancing to their first-ever CCSA championship match against Florida State, while also taking home a No. 10 ranking in the American Volleyball Coaches Association poll at the end of the season.   
 
FIU lost two key contributors off last season's roster in Katie Hogan and Morgan Crawley, however added five new Panthers – Erin Byrne (San Diego, California), Madison Besterfield (Tampa, Florida/Wiregrass Ranch), Ashley Klassen (Tsawwassen, British Columbia), Samantha Lemmon (Boca Raton, Florida/Boca Raton) and Erika Zembyla (Nicosia, Cyprus) – that will look to contribute during the 2018 season as the Panthers face another challenging national schedule.
 
FIUSports.com had the opportunity to speak with Rita Buck-Crockett, along with two of the Panthers' newcomers – Byrne and Zembyla – and talked about their transition at FIU and the upcoming season.