MIAMI (April 4, 2014) – The No. 7 FIU sand volleyball squad hit South Beach on Friday for day one of the Doctors Hospital Surf & Turf Tournament, defeating Florida Atlantic, 5-0, and LSU, 4-1. Three Panther pairs swept their competition for the day.

FIU improves to 11-2 in dual play on the season and looks to make it 13-2 tomorrow on day two of action. The first 75 fans in attendance tomorrow will receive a free FIU bucket hat.

The day was highlighted by FIU's No. 2 and No. 3 duos, as they both went 2-0. The No. 2 squad of senior Maryna Samoday and freshman Marina Boulanger defeated Florida Atlantic's Lauren D'Amato and Beth Shoaff, 21-9 and 21-6, while posting another victory over LSU's Kaitlin Hatcher and Helen Boyle, 21-17 and 21-11. The duo is now 11-2 in dual play.

The No. 3 squad of freshman Aren Cupp and junior Tina Toghiyani also picked up two victories against the Owls and Tigers. Cupp and Toghiyani downed FAU's Gabby Pyle and Andie Galinis, 21-10 and 21-7 as well as LSU's Victoria Boraski and Cati Leak, 21-5 and 21-17. The dynamic duo improved to 10-3 in dual play on the season.

 FIU's No. 4 pair of seniors Ksenia Sukhareva and Camila Rosado also went 2-0 on the day as they swept Megan Knapp and Mandy McIntosh of Florida Atlantic, 21-6 and 21-18, and Mimi Eugene and Briana Holman, 21-11 and 21-11.

The No. 5 squad of junior Maryta Gluchowicz and senior Kristine Monforte went 2-0, while the No. 1 squad of seniors Jessica Mendoza and Jessica Gehrke lost their first dual of the year to LSU, 21-8 and 21-19.

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).

DAY ONE– DOCTORS HOSPITAL FIU SURF & TURF TOURNAMENT – TEAM DUALS

April 4, 2014 – Miami Beach, Fla.

FIU (FIU) def. Florida Atlantic (FAU) 5-0

1.       1. Jessica Gehrke/Jessica Mendoza (FIU) def. Darija Sataric/Natalie Fraley (FAU) 21-13, 21-15

2.       2. Maryna Samoday/Marina Boulanger (FIU) def. Lauren D'Amato/Beth Shoaff (FAU) 21-9, 21-6

3.       3. Tina Toghiyani/Aren Cupp (FIU) def. Gabby Pyle/Andie Galinis (FAU) 21-10, 21-7

4.       4. Ksenia Sukhareva/Camila Rosado (FIU) def. Mandy McIntosh/Megan Knapp (FAU) 21-6, 21-18

5.       5. Kristine Monforte/Martyna Gluchowicz (FIU) def. Kristi Tekavec/Leexi Rhein (FAU) 21-16, 19-21, 15-8

Exhibition: Savannah Davis/Giovanna Pasos (FIU) def. Maja Rosko/Maria Coukoulis (FIU) 25-19

FIU (FIU) def. LSU (LSU) 4-1

1.       1. Meghan Mannari/Katie Lindelow (LSU) def. Jessica Gehrke/Jessica Mendoza (FIU) 21-8, 21-19

2.       2. Maryna Samoday/Marina Boulanger (FIU) def. Kaitlin Hatcher/Helen Boyle (LSU) 21-17, 21-11

3.       3. Tina Toghiyani/Aren Cupp (FIU) def. Victoria Boraski/Cati Leak (LSU) 21-5, 21-17

4.       4. Ksenia Sukhareva/Camila Rosado (FIU) def. Mimi Eugene/Briana Holman (LSU) 21-11, 21-11

5.       5. Kristine Monforte/Martyna Gluchowicz (FIU) def. Malorie Pardo/Laura Whalen (LSU) 21-15/21-14

Exhibition: Savannah Davis/Giovanna Pasos (FIU) def. Emma Hiller/Khourtni Fears (LSU) 25-8

                          #

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 FIU 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, visithttp://www.fiu.edu/