MIAMI – Fresh off its appearance in the programs first-ever Conference USA Tournament championship match, two FIU volleyball players, one who helped the Panthers return to the upper echelon of volleyball teams in the league and the other who will help to carry the torch for the next three years, were named to the C-USA All-Tournament Team for their efforts in FIU's impressive run to the title match.
 
Senior outside hitter Margherita Bianchin (Venice, Italy) and freshman setter Abbie Hughes (Mason, Ohio) earned all-tournament honors after helping guide the Panthers to a 2-1 ledger in this week's tournament, with a 3-0 quarterfinal win over No. 3-seed UTSA (25-19, 25-16, 25-21), and a 3-1 semifinal victory over No. 7-seed Southern Miss (25-20, 25-19, 20-25, 25-18), before its 3-0 loss in the final to top-seeded and regular season champion Rice (21-25, 22-25, 24-26).
 
Bianchin, tabbed a Second Team All-C-USA selection earlier last week, recorded 43 kills during the tournament for a 4.30 kill-per-set average, while logging a .375 hitting percentage. She also had 14 digs.

Hughes, a C-USA All-Freshman honoree, had 105 assists in the three matches, for a 10.5 assist-per-set average, to go along with 21 digs and seven kills.  
 
#####
 
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).