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FIU CHAMPIONSHIP NOTES | AVCA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP BRACKET
 
MIAMI (April 29, 2015) - The third-seeded FIU sand volleyball team is chasing its first national title this weekend on the beaches of Gulf Shores, Ala., at the 2015 AVCA Collegiate Sand Volleyball National Championships. FIU is making its second consecutive appearance at the national championships and opens the event against No. 6 Florida State at noon (11 a.m. CT) on Friday.
 
MATCH 20 – No. 3 FIU (18-1) vs. No. 6 Florida State (13-4) | Friday, May 1 | noon (11 a.m. CT) | Gulf Shores, Ala.
 
COVERAGE
Follow the Panthers on Twitter @FIUVolleyball for in-match updates and other news surrounding team. In addition, CBS Sports Network will televise portions of the competition in a special broadcast that will premiere on Saturday, May 23 at 1PM ET.  
 
TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP
FIU will engage in dual play on Friday and Saturday, and two wins on Friday would put the Panthers straight into the semifinals, scheduled for 11 a.m. ET (10 a.m. CT) on Saturday. A loss would regulate FIU into an elimination round match, scheduled for 4 p.m. ET (3 p.m. CT) or 5 p.m. ET (4 p.m. CT) dependent upon a first or second round loss. A double elimination format will be used on Friday, but Saturday's semifinals and final will be a win or go home situation.
 
PAIRS CHAMPIONSHIP
The Pairs Championship will begin with the 10 Best of the Rest duos engaged in pool play on Friday and Saturday, May 1 and 2. The top two finishers will be seeded into Sunday's 16-team single elimination bracket. The eight top pairs from the Team Championship schools and the top two from the finalists will also be entered into Sunday's Pairs Championship bracket. As a result, senior Maryna Samoday and freshman Anja Licka will automatically be placed into Sunday's 16-team pairs bracket. Should the Panthers reach Saturday's finals, then their No. 2 team of seniors Kristine Monforte and Summer Nash will be allotted entry as well. If FIU does not advance to Saturday's finals, then Monforte and Nash would have to compete in a play-in match. First round matches in the Pairs Championship will start at 9 a.m. ET (8 a.m. CT) on Sunday, May 3 with the championship match later that day slated to begin at 3 p.m. ET (2 p.m. CT).
 
THE BRACKET
In order of seeding, No. 1 USC (24-0), No. 2 Hawaii (15-1), No. 3 FIU (18-1), No. 4 Pepperdine (10-4), No. 5 Georgia State (18-1), No. 6 Florida State (13-4), No. 7 Long Beach State (13-4) and No. 8 Stetson (21-4) make up the eight-team field.
Pool A from the Best of the Rest bracket includes Betsi Metter and Sarah Sponcil from ULM, Marcela Araya and Michelle McNamee from ULM, Mandi Orellana and Katie Lindelow from LSU, McKenna Witt and Madison Witt from Arizona as well as Kiriana Hirini and Bethanie Thomas from UAB.
The participants from Pool B include Shannon Dugan and Mackenzie Phelps from Grand Canyon, Tea Juric and Jackie Wegner from Tulane, Madi Kingdon and Kaitlyn Leary from Arizona, Melissa Morello and Catey Warren from the College of Charleston and Zoey Nightengale and Kamila Tan from UCLA.
 
RECORD SETTERS
FIU rose to new heights this season, exceeding all expectations. The Panthers broke multiple records starting with highest ranking (No. 3), highest-ranked win (then-No. 2 Florida State), most wins over ranked opponents (4 vs. AVCA top 10; 5 vs. DiG Magazine top 20), most wins in a season (18) and longest winning streak (17). FIU comes into its second-consecutive AVCA National Championship appearance as the No. 3 seed and will face No. 6 Florida State in huge rematch. The winner of that first round match will face the victor of No. 2 Hawaii and No. 7 Long Beach State.
 
A LOOK BACK AT THE 2015 REGULAR SEASON
The Panthers capped off the 2015 season with a decisive 4-1 victory over then-No. 9 (now No. 8) Stetson at the Fiesta on Siesta. With the win, FIU concluded the season with a 17 dual match winning streak to finish the year 18-1, the best record in program history. The Panthers are currently 4-1 against current AVCA top 10 opponents and 5-1 versus DiG top 20 competitors.
 
FIU first defeated then-No. 2 Florida State (now No. 6), 3-2, at the Stetson Spring Break Tournament on March 7. It was the Panthers' first victory over an AVCA top 5 opponent and the first over Florida State.
 
The following weekend, FIU handed then-No. 7 Georgia State (now No. 5) its only loss of the season, 3-2, on March 14 at the UNF Sand Invitational. 
 
After sweeping the competition at the Tiger Sand Tournament in Baton Rouge, La., FIU traveled to Columbia, S.C., to take on defending AVCA National Champions and then-No. 3 Pepperdine (now No. 4). The Waves took an early 1-0 lead after Sophie Asprey and Taylor Racich defeated sophomore Savannah Davis and senior Darija Sataric at the No. 4 position. The Panthers evened things out after seniors Summer Nash and Kristine Monforte picked up a 21-19, 21-19 victory at the No. 2 spot. FIU took its first lead of the day as the No. 5 duo of senior Tina Toghiyani and sophomore Aren Cupp bested Katie Messing and Corinne Quiggle. However, the Waves tied the match at 2-2 as the No. 3 team of sophomore Marina Boulanger and senior Anna Budinska fell to Delaney Knudsen and Emily Cook. With the match on the line, the No. 1 pair of freshman Anja Licka and senior Maryna Samoday came up big and won 21-19, 21-18 as FIU took the match, 3-2.
 
PROJECTING THE LINEUP
No. 1: Maryna Samoday/Anja Licka - 19-4 overall, including a 17-2 record in dual play (all at No. 1 position) ... two of the four losses were either a walkover/forfeit to advance a different FIU team in pair play or a shortened match due to an injury (retired) ... 9-1 in last 10 matches ... major wins include a 19-21, 21-15, 15-11 win over Stetson's Kaley Melville and Julie Bassett (March 6), a 21-19, 15-21, 15-11 win over Georgia State's Sarah Agnew and Katelyn Rawls (March 14) and a 21-19, 21-18 victory over 2014 AVCA All-Americans Kelly Larsen and Kellie Woolever from Pepperdine (March 28).
 
No. 2: Kristine Monforte/Summer Nash - team best 20-3 on the season, including a 17-2 dual play ... 9-1 in last 10 matches and a 14-1 mark at the No. 2 flight ... highlighted victories included a 14-21, 21-16, 15-10 win over Florida State's Stephanie Pellitteri and Taylor Nyquist (March 6), a 21-13, 15-21, 15-12 win over Georgia State's Jansen Button and Sara Oliova (March 14), a 21-19, 21-19 win over Pepperdine's 2014 AVCA All-Americans Lara Dykstra and Becca Strehlow (March 28), and a 21-13, 21-18 victory over Stetson's Savannah Byl and Holly Reschke (April 10) ... the 21-13, 21-18 victory over Byl and Reschke was just the duo's second loss of the season.
 
No. 3: Martyna Gluchowicz/Anna Budinska - 12-2 overall, all in dual play ... the duo  has competed at the No. 2, No. 3 and No. 4 flights ... own a 3-1 record at the No 2 spot, an 8-1 mark at No. 3 and 1-0 at No. 4 ... 9-1 in last 10 matches ... currently on a nine-match winning streak ... major victories include a 28-26, 18-21, 15-13 win over Florida State's Kristina Pellitteri (March 7) and a 21-15, 21-15 win over Stetson's Maren Rygh and Kristin Lind (April 10).
 
No. 4: Marina Boulanger/Darija Sataric - FIU's newest pair of the season ... own a 5-1 overall record all in dual play ... perfect 5-0 at the No. 4 flight ... only loss was at the No. 3 spot to South Carolina's Sarah Blomgren and Jade Vitt (March 29).
 
No. 5: Tina Toghiyani/Aren Cupp - FIU's undefeated pair with a perfect 12-0 overall mark ... 7-0 in duals and 5-0 in pairs action ... major wins include a 21-19, 21-16 win over Pepperdine's Corinne Quiggle and Katie Messing and 21-16, 21-16 win over Stetson's Madison Tormey and Claudia Kalin ... have never forced a third set, winning 24-straight sets ... won the Silver bracket at the South Carolina's Palmetto Invitational ... the duo competed last season at the No. 1, No. 2, No. 3 and No. 5 positions to accumulate a 17-8 overall record ... the two competed at the No. 2 flight last season at Nationals going 0-3 (0-2 dual and 0-1 pairs) ... one of the losses was to Florida State's then-No. 2 pair of Stephanie and Kristina Pelliteri ... they also fell to Hawaii's 2014 AVCA All-Americans Katie Spieler and Nikki Taylor  in the opening round  before  opening pairs play losing to Grand Canyon's No. 1 pair of Mackenzie Phelps and Kelli Dallmann.
 
SCOUTING THE TEAM BRACKET
NO. 1 USC - The top-ranked USC women's sand volleyball team (24-0) opens the championship tournament against No. 8 Stetson Friday, May 1, at 8 a.m. CT (9 a.m. ET). The Women of Troy make their third straight team appearance at Nationals and seek the program's first national title in the sport. USC advanced to the semifinals in each of the last two years and has also produced the championship pair in each of the last two years. The Trojans carry a program-best winning streak of 24 matches into the championships and are the top-seeded team for the second straight year. USC is the only team in the tournament who comes in undefeated. Each Trojan pair has a record of 16-3 or better and are undefeated at the No. 5 flight. Jenna Belton and Bria Russ are 14-0, while Jo Kremer and Russ are 4-0. USC's top two pairs are 16-3, while the No. 3 team of Eve Ettinger and Meg Norton hold down an 18-1 record.
 
NO. 2 HAWAII - The Rainbow Wahine enter Nationals with a 15-1 record to earn the No. 2 seed and will take on No. 7 Long Beach State at 9 a.m. CT (10 a.m. ET) on May 1. This is Hawaii's second-straight team appearance in the championship tournament after receiving a No. 4 seed last season. Hawaii's only loss on the year came against No. 1 USC and it has defeated defending National Champion Pepperdine, Loyola Marymount, UCLA and No. 7 Long Beach State.
 
NO. 4 PEPPERDINE - Pepperdine (10-4) is making its fourth-consecutive appearance at the National Championships. The Waves won the inaugural team title in 2012 and again in 2014. Pepperdine opens the championships against No. 5 Georgia State, and are 2-0 all-time versus the Panthers. The Waves are 10-4 this season, with all four losses coming against top-three seeded USC, Hawaii and FIU. Pepperdine earned two wins against No. 7 Long Beach State during the regular season, as well as a 4-1 triumph over No. 6 Florida State. The Waves' top pair of Kelley Larsen and Kellie Woolever enter the championship with a 22-6 record, while the No. 2 team of Becca Strehlow and Lara Dykstra are 20-3. Both pairs reached the quarterfinals of the 2014 AVCA National Pairs Championship, earning All-American status along the way.
 
NO. 5 GEORGIA STATE - Georgia State exceeded all expectations this season as it set multiple school records including highest-ranking (No. 5), highest-ranked win (defeated No. 4 Florida State 3-2), and most wins in a season (18). All five of Georgia State's top pairs own winning records, with the most wins belonging to Sara Olivova and Jansen Button who are 23-11 on the year in Flights 1-3. Delaney Rohan and Natalie Wilson are 19-5, primarily playing at the No. 4 spot while Jessica Fourspring and Nina Interwies are 15-1 and have not lost in dual play. GSU's only loss of the year came against FIU at the UNF Sand Invitational.
 
NO. 6 FLORIDA STATE - Florida State (13-4) was selected to its fourth consecutive AVCA Collegiate Sand Volleyball National Championships, earning a sixth seed, taking on No. 3 FIU. Florida State dropped its lone match against FIU earlier this season on March 7. The Seminoles come into Nationals with a 13-4 record with its only four losses against top five teams (No. 1 USC, No. 3 FIU, No. 4 Pepperdine, No. 5 Georgia State). Florida State is missing two of its top-two players, Jace Pardon and Stephanie Pellitteri due to season-ending injuries. Melanie Pavels and Taylor Nyquist have solidified their position as Florida State's No. 1 pair, winning their last 12 matches. Tory Paranagua and Nina Pellitteri come in as Florida State's No. 2 pair, and are the only duo to play every match this season together.
 
NO. 7 LONG BEACH STATE - 2013 National Champion Long Beach State will enter the tournament as the No. 7 seed after finishing the season 14-5. The 49ers' five losses came against top 6 teams in No. 6 Florida State, No. 4 Pepperdine (two times) and No. 2 Hawaii (two times); however LBSU defeated then-10 teams in Loyola Marymount and UCLA twice during the regular season. All but one 49er pair owns a record of 13-4 in dual play with the exception of the No. 3 duo of Ciana Wagner and Andrea McHugh who are 12-4 overall.
 
NO. 8 STETSON - Stetson is set to face No. 1 ranked USC in the first round of the tournament at 9 a.m. ET (8 a.m. CT) to open play at Nationals.  Winners of the Atlantic Sun Conference and FIU's only loss of the year, the Hatters will be making their second-consecutive appearance in the team championship. Stetson and USC also met in last year's AVCA Championship. The Trojans took the match by a 4-1 margin. Julie Bassett and Rachael Farrell earned a 2-0 victory for the Hatters at the No. 3 seed.
 
Fans are encouraged to follow the Panthers on Twitter (@FIUVolleyball) and become a fan on Facebook (Facebook.com/FIUSandVolleyball) 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).
 
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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/.