Pictured, L-R: Ksenia Sukhareva & Kimberly Smith (Photo Credits: Alex Hernandez)

MIAMI (Sept. 15, 2013) – After leading the Panthers to a 2-1 weekend, senior Kimberly Smith and redshirt junior Ksenia Sukhareva were named to the FIU Invitational All-Tournament Team on Sunday afternoon at U.S. Century Bank Arena. The honor marks the third-consecutive of its kind for Sukhareva, while Smith's all-tournament nod marks her second-straight such accolade.

Smith registered a team-high 42 kills (3.82 kps) for the weekend, committing just six errors in 80 total attempts for an attack percentage of .450. The middle blocker reached the double-digit kill plateau in all three contests, posting 15 kills versus Jacksonville, 12 kills against Chattanooga, and 15 kills versus South Dakota State. In the Panthers' tournament finale against the Jackrabbits, Smith made just two errors in 26 total attempts, good for a season-high attack percentage of .500.

A native of Zionsville, Ind., Smith also led the Panther blocking corps for the tournament, notching 15 blocks (1.36 bps), including four solo stops, three of which came against SDSU to tie a career best. Smith currently owns a squad-high 32 blocks on the season, averaging 1.07 blocks per set.

Sukhareva added 37 kills (3.36 kps) across FIU's three matches to put her season total at a team-leading 117 kills (3.55 kps). The outside hitter began the tournament with a career-high-tying 20 kills versus JU before posting 10 kills against UTC and seven kills versus SDSU. Sukhareva also achieved double-digit kills against the Dolphins and the Mocs, putting her season and career double-double tally at three, as her 15 digs in the Panthers' tournament opener versus JU marked a career best.

A native of Moscow, Russia, Sukhareva chipped in with 38 digs (3.45 dps), three service aces, and three blocks for the weekend.

Joining Sukhareva and Smith on the FIU Invitational All-Tournament Team are: Samantha Strausbaugh – Jacksonville (MVP); Gabriela Roman – Jacksonville; Melissa Green – Chattanooga; and Kacey Hermann– South Dakota State.

FIU (5-4) returns to action next weekend, when the Panthers travel to West Lafayette, Ind., for the Active Ankle Challenge, hosted by Purdue. On Friday, Sept. 20, FIU faces Northern Kentucky (4 p.m. ET) before going up against Syracuse (10 a.m. ET) and the host Boilermakers (7:30 p.m. ET) on Saturday, Sept. 21.

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). The official FIU Athletics hashtag for the 2013-14 athletics year is #PantherNation.

About FIU Athletics: FIU Athletics is home to more than 400 student-athletes in 18 different sports. Athletic events are played in seven different venues on FIU's campuses (Modesto A. Maidique and Biscayne Bay), including U.S. Century Bank Arena and Alfonso Field at FIU Stadium.

About FIU: Florida International University is recognized as a Carnegie engaged university. Its colleges and schools offer more than 180 bachelor¹s, master¹s and doctoral programs in fields such as engineering, international relations, architecture, law and medicine. As one of South Florida¹s anchor institutions, FIU is Worlds Ahead in its local and global engagement, finding solutions to the most challenging problems of our time. FIU emphasizes research as a major component of its mission. FIU has awarded 200,000 degrees and enrolls 50,000 students in two campuses and three centers including FIU Downtown on Brickell and the Miami Beach Urban Studios. FIU is a member of Conference USA and has 400 student-athletes participating in 18 sports. For more information about FIU, visit http://www.fiu.edu/

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