The Basics
- The No. 12-ranked FIU beach volleyball team began play on Friday in its signature event of the season, the Surf 'N' Turf Invitational at Lummus Park on South Beach in Miami Beach. The Panthers posted a 2-1 record on the day, defeating No. 11 Grand Canyon and No. 8 South Carolina in a pair of 3-2 matches. The Panthers' only setback came at the hands of No. 2 UCLA (5-0). At the conclusion of Friday's competition, FIU stands at 17-6 on the year and 3-2 in Coastal Collegiate Sports Association play.

Click here for complete day one results.
 
Match One Details
FIU 3, Grand Canyon 2 
FIU (16-5), GCU (8-8)
Rankings: FIU – AVCA No. 12, DiG No. 11 | Grand Canyon – AVCA No. 11, DiG No. 14
Miami Beach, Florida | South Beach | Lummus Park Beach Volleyball Courts
 
- The Panthers took a 2-0 lead with wins at the No. 3 spot, by Lina Bernier and Madison Besterfield (21-17, 21-14), and at No. 5, with Taija Thomas and Mariana Dal Pozzo, taking a thrilling 23-21, 27-25 victory.  
 
- After Grand Canyon took the No. 4 match, 20-22, 21-13, 15-7, cutting the FIU lead to one, 2-1, the Panthers secured the match win when Federica Frasca and Margherita Bianchin won their 13^th-straight victory of the year, in three sets, 21-12, 16-21, 15-13.    
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Results
No. 1 – Federica Frasca/Margherita Bianchin (FIU) def. Molly Turner/Hannah Towne (GCU) 21-12, 16-21, 15-13
No. 2 – Bella Bauman/Jessica Stansfield (GCU) def. Katie Friesen/Dorina Klinger (FIU) 19-21, 21-19, 15-13
No. 3 – Lina Bernier/Madison Besterfield (FIU) def. Kelli Iverson/Taylor Jarzombek (GCU) 21-17, 21-14
No. 4 – Jessica Clark/Katie Pyles (GCU) def. Estefanie Bethancourt/Natalia Giron (FIU) 20-22, 21-13, 15-7
No. 5 – Taija Thomas/Mariana Dal Pozzo (FIU) def. Emily Reinking/Jamie Walsh (GCU) 23-21, 27-25
Exh. – Anabela Sataric/Erika Zembyla (FIU) def. Olivia Unnasch/Madi Relaz 21-18, 25-23 
 
Order of finish:  3,5,4,1,2
 
Match Two Details
UCLA 5, FIU 0 
FIU (16-6), UCLA (20-3)
Rankings: FIU – AVCA No. 12, DiG No. 11 | UCLA – AVCA No. 2, DiG No. 2
Miami Beach, Florida | South Beach | Lummus Park Beach Volleyball Courts
 
- FIU had its 10-match winning streak snapped with its 5-0 loss to No. 2 UCLA. Coming into the contest against the Bruins, the Panthers boasted their longest winning streak since winning 10 consecutive last year.
 
- In addition, the No. 1 duo of Frasca and Bianchin – the top pair in the nation at that spot – dropped only their second match of the season and had their 13-match winning streak snapped.  
 
Results
No. 1 – Nicole McNamara/Megan McNamara (UCLA) def. Margherita Bianchin/Federica Frasca (FIU) 21-17, 23-21
No 2 – Sarah Sponcil/Lily Justine (UCLA) def. Anabela Sataric/Dorina Klinger (FIU) 21-17, 21-18
No 3 – Savvy Simo/Zana Muno (UCLA) def. Estefanie Bethancourt/Natalia Giron (FIU) 18-21, 21-13, 15-7
No 4 – Elise Zappia/Mac May (UCLA) def. Madison Besterfield/Lina Bernier (FIU) 28-26, 21-15
No 5 – Izzy Carey/Megan Muret (UCLA) def. Taija Thomas/Mariana Dal Pozzo (FIU) 21-18, 21-19
 
Order of finish: 1,5,2,4,3
 
Match Three Details
FIU 4, South Carolina 1 
FIU (17-6), South Carolina (15-5)
Rankings: FIU – AVCA No. 12, DiG No. 11 | South Carolina – AVCA No. 8, DiG No. 9
Miami Beach, Florida | South Beach | Lummus Park Beach Volleyball Courts
 
- FIU got back on the winning track with a 4-1 victory over No. 8 South Carolina in its final match of the day.
 
- The Panthers jumped out quickly, winning the first four matches, before the Gamecocks recorded its only win of the match at the No. 4 position, the final match of the contest.  
 
Results
No. 1 – Federica Frasca/Margherita Bianchin (FIU) def. Shannon Williams/Ali Denney (SC) 21-18, 21-17
No. 2 – Anabela Sataric/Erika Zembyla (FIU) def. Cadie Bates/Carly Schnieder (SC) 21-17, 21-17
No. 3 – Lina Bernier/Madison Besterfield (FIU) def. Leah Perri/Macie Tendrich (SC) 21-14, 21-18
No. 4 – Julia Mannisto/Caroline Skaff (SC) def. Estefanie Bethancourt/Natalia Giron (FIU) 21-18, 21-23, 15-10
No. 5 – Mariana Dal Pozzo/Taija Thomas (FIU) def. Jess Vastine/Avery Davis (SC) 23-21, 24-22
 
Order of finish: 3,2,5,1,4
 
Up Next
FIU will close out the Surf 'N' Turf Invitational on Saturday, March 31, when it takes to the court to face No. 7 Florida State at 10:50 a.m., Tulane at 12:50 p.m., and No. 9 Georgia State at 3:50 p.m.

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