MIAMI (April 5, 2014) – After going 2-0 on the first day of the Doctors Hospital FIU Surf & Turf Tournament, the No. 7 FIU sand volleyball team wrapped up dual play going 2-0 on day two, making them 4-0 for the tournament. The Panthers are now 13-2 in dual action on the season.
The No. 2's and 3's swept their competition for the second consecutive day and finished the dual portion of the tournament sweeping all their matchups.
The No. 2 pair of senior Maryna Samoday and freshman Marina Boulanger defeated North Florida's Anna Budinska and Cari Whitmire, 21-15 and 21-17. In their second dual against Florida Gulf Coast, they only allowed 20 points defeating Caroline Jordan and Ella Kazarian, 21-11 and 21-9. The duo improves to 7-0 on the year (7-0 duals, 0-0 pairs).
The No. 3 squad of freshman Aren Cupp and junior Tina Toghiyani also dominated on day two. Cupp and Toghiyani downed Cameron McGuire and Tanner Garbutt of North Florida, 21-14 and 21-16. The pair then picked up its 11th dual victory of the season defeating Florida Gulf Coast's Karina Mambuca and Vanessa Benke, only allowing 18 points at 21-9 in both sets.
In the No. 4 spot, seniors Ksenia Sukhareva and Camila Rosado played an extremely close match against North Florida, and after dropping the first set 21-17 to Julie Trembley and Britt Claessens, the pair fought back to win the next two, 21-18 and 15-12. Against FGCU, the dynamic duo won in two sets, 21-11 and 21-14
In addition, the No. 5's ended the weekend of duals 4-0. Junior Maryta Gluchowicz and senior Kristine Monforte swept both their matches today, defeating UNF's Emily Strack and Allison Shirley, 21-19 and 21-11, while downing Katie Gutmann and Ashley Baker of Florida Gulf Coast, 21-10 and 21-15.
FIU's No. 1 duo of seniors Jessica Gehrke and Jessica Mendoza fell in a close three-setter against North Florida's Dagnija Medina and Kim Hildreth, 13-21, 21-19 and 9-15. The pair split up in the Panthers' second dual of the day. Mendoza and freshman Giovanna Pasos picked up their first victory together as partners, sweeping Kaitlin Holm and Whitney Masters, 21-14 and 21-17.
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DAY TWO– DOCTORS HOSPITAL FIU SURF & TURF TOURNAMENT – TEAM DUALS
April 5, 2014 – Miami Beach, Fla.
FIU (FIU) def. North Florida (UNF) 4-1
1. Dagnija Medina/Kim Hildreth (UNF) def. Jessica Gehrke/Jessica Mendoza (FIU) 21-13, 19-21, 15-9
2. Maryna Samoday/Marina Boulanger (FIU) def.Anna Budinska/Cari Whitmire (UNF) 21-15, 21-17
3. Tina Toghiyani/Aren Cupp (FIU) def. Tanner Garbutt/Cameron McGuire (UNF) 21-14, 21-16
4. Ksenia Sukhareva/Camila Rosado (FIU) def. Julie Trembley/Britt Claessens (UNF) 17-21, 21-18, 15-12
5. Kristine Monforte/Martyna Gluchowicz (FIU) def. Emily Strack/Allison Shirley (UNF) 21-19, 21-11
Exhibition: Savannah Davis/Giovanna Pasos (FIU) def. Emily Davanzo/Ebony Gunn (UNF) 25-15
FIU (FIU) def. Florida Gulf Coast (FGCU) 5-0
1. Jessica Mendoza/Giovanna Pasos (FIU) def. Kaitlin Holm/Whitney Masters (FGCU) 21-14, 21-17
2. Maryna Samoday/Marina Boulanger (FIU) def. Caroline Jordan/Ella Kazarian (FGCU) 21-11, 21-9
3. Tina Toghiyani/Aren Cupp (FIU) def. Karina Mambuca/Vanessa Benke (FGCU)
4. Ksenia Sukhareva/Camila Rosado (FIU) def. Marlene Moeller/Madi Wilcox (FGCU) 21-11, 21-14
5. Kristine Monforte/Martyna Gluchowicz (FIU) def. Katie Gutmann/Ashley Baker (FGCU) 21-10, 21-15
Exhibition: Savannah Davis/Jessica Gehrke (FIU – 6's) def. Elly Citron/Laura Duffy (FIU – 8's) 21-11
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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/
