Beach Volleyball 3/18/2017 9:48:00 PM

FIU Has a Perfect 3-0 Day During Day One of the Tiger Beach Challenge

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana (March 18, 2017) – The FIU beach volleyball team (8-5, 4-1 in CCSA) went 3-0 during day one of the Tiger Beach Challenge in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The team lost only one match on Saturday, defeating Spring Hill (5-0), UAB (5-0) and Houston Baptist (4-1).

In the first match of the afternoon, the No. 1 pair of Katie Hogan and Dorina Klinger made their first appearance together, defeating Spring Hill's Madison Sauzeneau and Julie Vujnovich, 21-17, 18-21, 15-8. The tandem of Kari Peterson and Helene Thelle recorded a win at the No. 2 spot against Spring Hill's Savannah Becnel and Molly Griffin in two sets, 21-14, 21-17. At No. 3, Lina Bernier and Natalia Giron defeated the Brittany Bilotti and Sarah Senft, 21-15, 21-11.

The No. 4 pair of Estefanie Bethancourt and Anabela Sataric advanced to 9-2 on the season with a win over Carolina Herrera and Hannah Masner, 21-13, 21-8. The No. 5 pair of Margherita Bianchin and Taija Thomas advanced to 8-3 on the season, securing a decisive victory over the Taylor Hurst and Catherine Milwee, 21-9, 21-9.

In the second match of the day, FIU secured another win, defeating UAB, 5-0, with almost every pair finishing in two sets.

Closing out day one, the Panthers defeated Houston Baptist, 4-1, in their final match.

Two FIU pairs advanced to double-digit winning records; Anabela Sataric and Estefanie Bethancourt (11-2) Margherita Bianchin and Taija Thomas (10-3).

The Panthers will close out the Tiger Beach Challenge tomorrow, March 19, as they take on No. 8-ranked LSU at 11 a.m. and close with Tulane at 2 p.m.

FIU def. Spring Hill, 5-0

No. 1   Katie Hogan/Dorina Klinger (FIU) def. Madi Sauzeneau/Julie Vujnovich (Spring Hill) 21-17, 18-21, 15-8
No. 2   Kari Peterson/Helene Thelle (FIU) def. Savannah Becnel/Molly Griffin (Spring Hill) 21-14, 21-17
No. 3   Lina Bernier/Natalia Giron (FIU) def. Brittany Bilotti/Sarah Senft (Spring Hill) 21-15, 21-11
No. 4   Estefanie Bethancourt/Anabela Sataric (FIU) def. Caroline Herrera/Hannah Masner (Spring Hill) 21-13, 21-8
No. 5   Margherita Bianchin/Taija Thomas (FIU) def. Taylor Hurst/Catherine Milwee (Spring Hill) 21-9, 21-9
No. 6   Morgan Crawley/Mackenzie Walker (FIU) def. Payton Gidney/Emily Greim (Spring Hill) 21-15, 22-20

FIU def. UAB, 5-0

No. 1   Katie Hogan/Dorina Klinger (FIU) def. Avei Logoleo/Erika Zembyla (UAB) 21-17, 21-18
No. 2   Kari Peterson/Helene Thelle (FIU) def. Rachel Evans/Gabbi Moreno (UAB) 21-11, 21-16
No. 3   Estefanie Bethancourt/Anabela Sataric (FIU) def. Avery Hoven/Katarina Jovicic (UAB) 21-14, 21-10
No. 4   Lina Bernier/Natalia Giron (FIU) def. Kenley Adams/Haley Jared (UAB) 21-10, 21-19
No. 5   Margherita Bianchin/Taija Thomas (FIU) def. Emily Martinez/Morgan Smith (UAB) 21-18, 18-21, 15-11
No. 6   Morgan Crawley/Katie Friesen (FIU) def. Brittney Munro/Madison O'Brien (UAB) 20-22, 26-24, 15-9

FIU def. Houston Baptist, 4-1

No 1    Aeriel Horton/Jessica Wooten (HBU) def. Katie Hogan/Dorina Klinger (FIU) 23-21, 21-16
No. 2   Anabela Sataric/Estefanie Bethancourt (FIU) def. Kayla Armer/Tori Hinojosa (HBU) 21-18, 21-15
No. 3   Helene Thelle/Kari Peterson (FIU) def. Melissa Fuchs/Bailey Banks (HBU) 22-20, 6-21, 15-11
No. 4   Taija Thomas/Margherita Bianchin (FIU) def. Taylor Livoti/Tiffany Thomas (HBU) 19-21, 21-15, 15-6
No. 5   Natalia Giron/Lina Bernier (FIU) def. Morgan McDaniel/Danielle Wheeler (HBU) 21-11, 21-17
No. 6   Katie Friesen/Mackenzie Walker (FIU) def. Hannah Lewis/Madison O'Brien (HBU) 21-8, 21-18

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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).

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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.Maidiqueand Biscayne Bay), including FIU Arena and Ocean Bank Field 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 offers more than 180bachelor'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 $9.8 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, theWolfsonian-FIU, and the Jewish Museum of Florida-FIU. FIU is a member of Conference USA andhas over 400 student-athletes participating in 18 sports. For more

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