The Basics
- The No. 13-ranked FIU beach volleyball team began play in the Stetson University Hickory Point Lake Bash on Friday in Tavares, Florida, posting a 2-0 record on the first day of competition. The Panthers recorded a convincing 5-0 win over Jacksonville, and a 3-2 victory over New Mexico. With the wins on Saturday, FIU improves to 8-5 on the year.   
Game One Match Details
FIU 5, Jacksonville 0 
FIU (7-5), JU (0-3)
Rankings: FIU – AVCA No. 13, DiG No. 14 | Jacksonville – AVCA NR, DiG NR
Tavares, Florida | Hickory Point Recreation Park
 
- FIU made extremely quick work of in-state foe Jacksonville in the first match of the day on Friday, defeating the Dolphins, 5-0. The Panthers won all five matches against Jacksonville in two sets.
 
-  The No. 1 pair of Federica Frasca and Margherita Bianchin kept rolling, improving to 11-1 on the year, with a dominating 21-8, 21-8 win.
 
- Mariana Dal Pozzo and Taija Thomas stayed perfect, moving to 6-0, winning at the No. 5 position with a 21-12, 21-15 victory, while Estefanie Bethancourt and Natalia Giron improved to 8-4 on the year with a 21-8, 21-16, triumph at No. 4.
 
-  Two tandems played their first matches together on Saturday. At No. 2, Dorina Klinger and Erika Zembyla teamed up for a 21-16, 21-19 win. At the No. 3 spot, Lina Bernier and Madison Besterfield recorded their first match win as a duo – and Besterfield's first career win – with a 22-20, 21-11 victory.  
 
- Saturday was the first of two meetings between the Panthers and Dolphins. The two will also meet on March 24 at the Saint Leo Tournament in Saint Leo, Florida. FIU moves to 5-0 all-time against Jacksonville.
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Results
No. 1 – Federica Frasca/Margherita Bianchin (FIU) def. Savannah Siegrist/Mackenzie Swan (JU) 21-8, 21-8
No. 2 – Dorina Klinger/Erika Zembyla (FIU) def. Christina Finan/Shelby Babowicz (JU) 21-16, 21-19
No. 3 – Lina Bernier/Madison Besterfield (FIU) def. Morgan Dees/Katie Krawczyk (JU) 22-20, 21-11
No. 4 – Estefanie Bethancourt/Natalia Giron (FIU) def. Shaylee Befus/Lauren Petersen (JU) 21-8, 21-16
No. 5 – Mariana Dal Pozzo/Taija Thomas (FIU) def. Mallory Mattingly/Hannah Marchand (JU) 21-12, 21-15
 
Game Two Match Details
FIU 3, New Mexico 2 
FIU (8-5), New Mexico (2-7)
Rankings: FIU – AVCA No. 13, DiG No. 14 | New Mexico – AVCA RV, DiG RV
Tavares, Florida | Hickory Point Recreation Park
 
- The Panthers closed out their first day at the Hickory Point Lake Bash with a 3-2 win over New Mexico.   
 
- FIU took victories at the Nos. 1, 4, and 5 positions. Frasca and Bianchin won at No. 1, 23-21, 21-13, while Bethancourt and Giron won 21-12, 21-12 at No. 4, and Dal Pozzo and Thomas took the No. 5 match, 21-19, 21-19.   
 
Results
No. 1 – Federica Frasca/Margherita Bianchin (FIU) def. Maddie Irwin/Erin Martin (NM) 23-21, 21-13
No. 2 – Eastyn Baleto/Lauren Twitty (NM) def. Dorina Klinger/Erika Zembyla (FIU) 21-13, 24-22
No. 3 – Yasmin Tan/Chloe Crappell (NM) def. Anabela Sataric/Helene Thelle (FIU) 21-19, 22-20
No. 4 – Estefanie Bethancourt/Natalia Giron (FIU) def. Kayla Long/Mercedes Pacheco (NM) 21-12, 21-12
No. 5 – Mariana Dal Pozzo/Taija Thomas (FIU) def. Abbey Willison/Carly Beddingfield (NM) 21-19, 21-19
   
Up Next
FIU closes out the Stetson Hickory Point Lake Bash on Sunday when it faces UNC Wilmington at 9 a.m. and the College of Charleston at 1 p.m. in a pair of Coastal Collegiate Sports Association matches.

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