GULF SHORES, Ala. (May 1, 2015) – The third-ranked FIU sand volleyball squad advanced to the quarterfinals on the first day of the AVCA National Championships. After defeating in-state rival No. 6 Florida State, 5-0, the Panthers fell to No.7 Long Beach State, 4-1, before defeating No. 8 Stetson in the second round of the losers' bracket. FIU is now set to take on No. 4 Pepperdine at noon ET (11 a.m. CT).
 
After falling 4-1 to No. 7 Long Beach State, the Panthers regained their composure and knocked out No. 8 Stetson, 3-2.
 
FIU took a 1-0 lead after freshman Anja Licka and senior Maryna Samoday won decisively, 21-12, 21-14, at the No. 1 flight. The Hatters tied things up at the No. 2 position, but the No. 4 pair of seniors Anna Budinska and Martyna Gluchowicz won their third match of the day, 21-15, 21-14, as FIU took a 2-1 lead. Budinska and Gluchowicz were the only FIU pair to win all three of their matches today. After sophomore Marina Boulanger and senior Darija Sataric dropped the first set, the duo came back and battled, but eventually fell in the second 27-25.
 
With the match tied 2-2, it would come down to the No. 5 pair of seniors Alex Johnson and Tina Toghiyani. After dropping the first set, 21-19, they came back to take the second 21-19 and force a third and deciding set. Johnson and Toghiyani came out on fire as they quickly jumped out to an 8-3 lead. After exchanging the next couple of points, the duo forced a match point with Stetson serving. The Hatters served out of bounds and Johnson and Toghiyani took the set, 15-7, as FIU defeated Stetson for the second time this season.
 
The Panthers are now set to face No. 4 Pepperdine tomorrow at noon ET (11 a.m. CT). The winner of that match advances to the semifinals and will face the loser of the No. 1 USC/No. 7 Long Beach State dual.
 
For all the scores and results, click HERE
 
AVCA National Championships Round 2 Results
Long Beach State (LBSU) def. FIU 4-1
No. 1     Delainey Aigner-Swesey/ Chelsea Cabraijac def. Maryna Samoday/Anja Licka (FIU) 21-19, 23-21
No. 2     Tyler Jackson/Jenelle Hudson (LBSU) def. Summer Nash/Kristine Monforte (FIU) 21-17, 21-15
No. 3     Bree Mackie/Jenell Hudson (LBSU) def. Darija Sataric/Marina Boulanger (FIU) 21-18, 21-16
No. 4     Martyna Gluchowicz/Anna Budinska (FIU) def. Andrea McHugh/ Ciana Wagner (LBSU) 21-14, 22-20
No. 5     Rachel Nieto/Sammee Thoma (LBSU) def. Aren Cupp/Tina Toghiyani (FIU) 13-21, 21-13, 15-12
 
 
AVCA National Championships Round 3 Results
FIU def. Stetson (STET) 3-2
No. 1     Maryna Samoday/Anja Licka (FIU) def. Kaley Melville/ Julie Bassett (STET) 21-12, 21-14
No. 2     Kristin Lind/Maren Rygh (STET) def. Summer Nash/Savannah Davis (FIU) 21-12, 21-12
No. 3     Savannah Byl/Holly Reschke (STET) def. Darija Sataric/Marina Boulanger (FIU) 21-17, 27-25
No. 4     Martyna Gluchowicz/Anna Budinska (FIU) def. Madison Akins/Kaylee Anderson (STET) 21-15, 21-14
No. 5     Alex Johnson/Tina Toghiyani (FIU) def. Claudia Kalin/ Madison Tormey (STET) 19-21, 21-19, 15-7
 
 
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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/.