COLUMBIA, S.C. (March 29, 2015) - The sixth-ranked FIU sand volleyball team closed out the Palmetto Invitational with a 3-2 victory over host South Carolina. With the win, the Panthers extended their dual winning streak to 12 and are now 13-1 on the year.
 
FIU took a 1-0 lead after a hard-fought 21-15, 30-28 victory at the No. 4 position as seniors Martyna Gluchowicz and Anna Budinska defeated Jade Hayes and Macie Tendrich. The Gamecocks would even things up at the No. 2 spot as Paige Wheeler and Megan Kent snapped seniors Kristine Monforte and Summer Nash's 11-match winning streak in dual action. The Panthers quickly bounced back as senior Tina Toghiyani and sophomore Aren Cupp defeated KoKo Atoa-Williams and Allie Monserez, 21-16, 21-18, to take the 2-1 advantage. FIU clinched the dual at the No. 1 spot as senior Maryna Samoday and Anja Licka won in two, 21-16, 22-20.
        
In pairs action, No. 1 Samoday and Licka took the forfeit in the semifinals in order to give way to the No. 2 team of Monforte and Nash in the Gold Bracket Finals. The duo fell in two to Pepperdine's No. 2 pair of Lara Dykstra and Becca Strehlow, 21-18, 21-14, to take second place.
 
In the silver bracket, Gluchowicz and fellow senior Darija Sataric gave way for Cupp and Toghiyani to reach the finals against Pepperdine's No. 4 tandem of Sophie Asprey and Taylor Racich. In a hard-fought battle, Cupp and Toghiyani came away with the 22-20, 21-18 victory to claim the Silver Bracket Championship.  
 
The Panthers return to Miami for the annual Doctors Hospital Surf and Turf Invitational on South Beach. FIU is set to host Florida Atlantic, Stanford, Carson-Newman and Webber.
 
PALMETTO INVITATIONAL DAY 2 RESULTS
FIU def. South Carolina (SC) 3-2
No. 1     Maryna Samoday/Anja Licka (FIU) def. Maddie Frome/Julia Mannisto (SC) 21-16, 22-20
No. 2     Paige Wheeler/Megan Kent (SC) def. Summer Nash/Kristine Monforte (FIU) 18-21, 21-14, 15-11
No. 3     Jade Vitt/Sarah Blomgren (SC) def. Marina Boulanger/Darija Sataric (FIU) 21-17, 21-19
No. 4     Martyna Gluchowicz/Anna Budinska (FIU) def. Jade Hayes/Macie Tendrich (SC) 21-15, 30-28
No. 5     Aren Cupp/Tina Toghiyani (FIU) def. KoKo Atoa-Williams/Allie Monserez (SC) 21-16, 21-18
Exh.       Anabela Sataric/Kari Peterson (FIU) def. Erin Neuenfeldt/Litsa Darby (SC) 15-21, 21-18, 20-18
 
Gold Bracket
Semifinals
Kristine Monforte/Summer Nash (FIU) def. Maryna Samoday/Anja Licka (FIU) 21-0, 21-0 (forfeit)
Lara Dykstra/Becca Strehlow (PEP) def. Kelley Larsen/Kellie Woolever (PEP) 14-21, 21-19, 15-11
 
Final
Lara Dykstra/Becca Strehlow (PEP) def. Kristine Monforte/Summer Nash (FIU) 21-18, 21-14
 
 
Silver Bracket
Semifinals
Aren Cupp/Tina Toghiyani (FIU) def. Darija Sataric/Martyna Gluchowicz (FIU) 21-0, 21-0 (forfeit)
Sophie Asprey/Taylor Racich (PEP) def. Corinne Quiggle/Katie Messing (PEP) 21-8, 17-21, 15-11
 
Final
Aren Cupp/Tina Toghiyani (FIU) def. Sophie Asprey/Taylor Racich (PEP) 22-20, 21-18
 
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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 Ocean BankField at FIU Stadium.
 
 About FIU: Florida International University is recognized as a Carnegie engaged university. It is a public research university with colleges and schools that offer more than 180 bachelor's, master's and doctoral programs in fields such as engineering, international relations, architecture, law and medicine. As one of South Florida's anchor institutions, FIU contributes $8.9 billion each year to the local economy. FIU is Worlds Ahead in finding solutions to the most challenging problems of our time. FIU emphasizes research as a major component of its mission. FIU has awarded over 200,000 degrees and enrolls more than 54,000 students in two campuses and three centers including FIU Downtown on Brickell, FIU@I-75, and the Miami Beach Urban Studios. FIU also supports artistic and cultural engagement through its three museums: the Patricia & Phillip Frost Art Museum, the Wolfsonian-FIU, and the Jewish Museum of Florida-FIU. FIU is a member of Conference USA and has over 400 student-athletes participating in 18 sports. For more information about FIU, visit http://www.fiu.edu/.