Match Details
FIU 4, UL Monroe 1  
FIU (1-0), ULM (0-2)
Rankings: FIU – No. 11, ULM – NR
Forth Wort, Texas | TCU Beach Volleyball Complex
 
The Basics
- After bad weather forced its match to be moved from 9:30 a.m. ET on Saturday to 6 p.m., the No. 11-ranked FIU beach volleyball team finally kicked off its 2018 season with a 4-1 win over UL Monroe during the first day of the Horned Frog Challenge at the TCU Beach Volleyball Courts in Fort Worth, Texas. The victory marks the sixth-straight season-opening win in the program's short history, and the third win – all 4-1 outcomes – over the Warhawks.
 
- The Panthers were up 2-0, winning at No. 4 (Estefanie Bethancourt/Natalia Giron) and No. 5 (Erin Byrne/Mariana Dal Pozzo), before dropping the match at the No. 3 spot (Lina Bernier/Erika Zembyla). The No. 2 tandem of Anabela Sataric and Dorina Klinger secured the match victory for the Panthers.    
 
- FIU's No. 1 tandem of Federica Frasca and Margherita Bianchin, who were one of the top pairs at the No. 1 spot during 2017 posting a 20-5 record, got off to a solid start with a convincing 21-13, 21-9 win.
 
Results
No. 1 – Federica Frasca/Margherita Bianchin (FIU) def. Gabby Love/Maile Sellers (ULM) 21-13, 21-9
No. 2 – Anabela Sataric/Dorina Klinger (FIU) def. Grace Convey/Kayla Gallant (ULM) 21-17, 21-9
No. 3 – Catherine Graiffith/Rebecca Brown (ULM) def. Lina Bernier/Erika Zembyla (FIU) 21-19, 12-21, 15-11
No. 4 – Estefanie Bethancourt/Natalia Giron (FIU) def. Bailey Smith/Allie Kemp (ULM) 21-11, 21-6
No. 5 – Erin Byrne/Mariana Dal Pozzo def. Holland Ponthieux/McKenna Webster (ULM) 21-12, 21-13
Ext. – Mackenzie Walker/Mariana De Paula Silva (FIU) def. Taylor Meyer/Alix Christie (ULM) 21-10
 
Notable
- The bad early morning weather in Fort Worth didn't dampen the spirits of the Panthers' players and staff who were still able to see their head coach, Rita Buck-Crockett, inducted into the Texas Black Sports Hall of Fame in Dallas during a luncheon on Saturday afternoon.
 
Order of Finish: 4,5,3,2,1
   
Up Next
The Panthers close out their season-opening weekend on Sunday, Feb. 25, when they face Texas A&M-Kingsville at 10 a.m. ET and the host TCU at 12 p.m. FIU will play one of its two home matches at the FIU Beach Volleyball Complex on Tuesday, March 27 at 1 p.m.

##########
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).