The Basics
- The No. 10-ranked FIU beach volleyball team closed out pool play on Saturday afternoon in the 2018 Coastal Collegiate Sports Association (CCSA) Tournament at the Lakepoint Sporting Community in Emerson, Georgia. The Panthers split their two matches on the afternoon, dropping the first dual, 3-2, to No. 9 South Carolina, and dominating UAB, 5-0. FIU finished the first two days of the CCSA Tourney 3-1 in pool play and advance to the semifinals on Sunday at 9 a.m. against Florida State. The Panthers are now 23-9 on the year, and are one-win shy of equaling their most wins in program history in a season
- FIU and the Seminoles have met just once this season, with Florida State coming out on top, 5-0 on March 31, in the Surf 'N' Turf Invitational on South Beach. The Panthers are 2-8 all-time against the Seminoles.
Match One Details
South Carolina 3, FIU 2
FIU (22-9), South Carolina (24-6)
Rankings: FIU – AVCA No. 10, DiG No. 10 | CofC – AVCA No. 9, DiG No. 9
Emerson, Georgia | Lakepoint Sporting Community
- The Panthers dropped their first dual of pool play on Saturday, as the two seed, and No. 9-ranked, South Carolina handed FIU a tough 3-2 loss in their first match of the day.
- FIU won the match at the No. 1 position, as
Federica Frasca and
Margherita Bianchin took a three-set battle, 19-21, 21-16, 15-9. After dropping the Nos. 2, 3, and 4 positions,
Natalia Giron and
Estefanie Bethancourt took their match at No. 5, in straight sets, 21-18-, 21-17
- Today was the second meeting of the season between FIU and South Carolina. The Panthers defeated the Gamecocks in the first match, 4-1, on March 30, during the Surf 'N' Turf Invitational on South Beach.
Results-
No. 1 –
Federica Frasca/
Margherita Bianchin (FIU) def. Cadie Bates/Katie Smith (SC) 19-21, 21-16, 15-9
No. 2 – Shannon Williams/Ali Denney (SC) def.
Lina Bernier/
Erika Zembyla (FIU) 21-17, 21-14
No. 3 – Carly Schnieder/Julia Mannisto (SC) def.
Katie Friesen/
Dorina Klinger (FIU) 21-15, 21-15
No. 4 – Leah Perri/Macie Tendrich (SC) def.
Mariana Dal Pozzo/
Taija Thomas (FIU) 11-21, 21-15, 15-5
No. 5 –
Natalia Giron/
Estefanie Bethancourt (FIU) def. Caroline Skaff/Jess Vastine (SC) 21-18, 21-17
Match Two Details
FIU 5, UAB 0
FIU (23-9), UAB (8-15)
Rankings: FIU – AVCA No. 10, DiG No. 10 | UAB – AVCA RV, DiG N/A
Emerson, Georgia | Lakepoint Sporting Community
- The Panthers dominated play in their fourth and final pool play dual on Saturday, with a commanding 5-0 win over UAB. The victory secured a spot in the tournament semifinals for FIU on Sunday.
- FIU had just one match go to three sets against the Blazers, with that coming at the No. 4 position, before
Mariana Dal Pozzo and
Taija Thomas pulled out the come-from-behind victory, 17-21, 21-13, 19-17. In the Panthers' other four matches, FIU did not allow more than 15 points.
Results
No. 1 –
Federica Frasca/
Margherita Bianchin (FIU) def. Devon May/Kenley Adams (UAB) 21-14, 21-15
No. 2 –
Lina Bernier/
Erika Zembyla (FIU) def. Avei Logoleo/Erin Bognar (UAB) 21-13, 21-15
No. 3 –
Katie Friesen/
Dorina Klinger (FIU) def. Gabbi Moreno/Emily Martinez (UAB) 21-13, 21-14
No. 4 –
Mariana Dal Pozzo/
Taija Thomas (FIU) def. Kaylee McClure/Tressa Buckland (UAB) 17-21, 21-13, 19-17
No. 5 –
Natalia Giron/
Estefanie Bethancourt (FIU) def. SalliAnne Napolitano/Annie Pringle (UAB) 21-6, 21-12
Up Next
FIU advances to the CCSA Tournament semifinals where it will take on Florida State at 9 a.m. The winner of the FIU-Florida State match will face off against the winner of the South Carolina-LSU dual in the tournament title match on Sunday 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).
