The Basics
- The No. 13-ranked FIU beach volleyball team closed out a dominating weekend, on Saturday, with two wins during the second and final day, of the Saint Leo Invitational in Saint Leo, Florida, just outside of Tampa. The Panthers handed defeats to Eckerd (4-1) and Florida Southern (5-0) to finish the weekend, 4-0. FIU also extended its winning streak to nine matches, it's longest such streak since winning nine-straight during the 2014 campaign. The Panthers improve to 15-5 on the year.
 
Match One Details
FIU 4, Eckerd 1 
FIU (14-5), Eckerd (9-6)
Rankings: FIU – AVCA No. 13, DiG No. 14 | Eckerd – AVCA NR, DiG NR
Saint Leo, Florida | Saint Leo Beach Volleyball Courts
 
- The Panthers dominated for the second-straight day, on Saturday, despite dropping their only set of the weekend to Eckerd, in the 4-1 win over the Tritons.
 
- After Mariana Dal Pozzo and Taija Thomas (21-16, 21-13) at No. 5, and Estefanie Bethancourt and Natalia Giron (21-18, 21-16) at No. 4 got the Panthers off to a fast start with the first two victories, Lina Bernier and Madison Besterfield secured the match victory with a 21-15, 21-9 win at the No. 3 spot.   
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Results
No. 1 – Federica Frasca/Margherita Bianchin (FIU) def. Paula Hoffmann/Kaitlyn Sibson (EC) 21-16, 21-13
No. 2 – Mackenzie Redner/Savanna Cary (EC) def. Anabela Sataric/Erika Zembyla (FIU) 21-19, 21-14
No. 3 – Lina Bernier/Madison Besterfield (FIU) def. Rachel Cornatzer/Jordan Duffy (EC) 21-15, 21-9
No. 4 – Estefanie Bethancourt/Natalia Giron (FIU) def. Arielle Erillo/Fernanda Reis (EC) 21-18, 21-16
No. 5 – Mariana Dal Pozzo/Taija Thomas (FIU) def. Kali Boatwright/Stephanie Bogda (EC) 22-20, 21-8
 
Order of finish: 5, 4, 3, 1, 2
 
Match Two Details
FIU 5, Florida Southern 0 
FIU (15-5), Florida Southern (3-12)
Rankings: FIU – AVCA No. 13, DiG No. 14 | Florida Southern – AVCA NR, DiG NR
Saint Leo, Florida | Saint Leo Beach Volleyball Courts
 
- FIU won its third match of the weekend, by a score of 5-0, in its final match of the Saint Leo Invitational against Florida Southern. The Panthers won all of their matches in two sets.
 
- Federica Frasca and Margherita Bianchin improved to a stellar 19-1 on the year with their 21-11, 21-15 win at the No. 1 position. The duo extended its winning streak, at the top spot, to 12-straight.
 
- The tandem of Dorina Klinger and Katie Friesen played as a pair for the first time this season, winning at the No. 2 position, 21-16, 21-15.
 
Results
No. 1 – Federica Frasca/Margherita Bianchin (FIU) def. Sydney Marshall/Makena Wilson (FSC) 21-11, 21-15
No. 2 – Dorina Klinger/Katie Friesen (FIU) def. Lauren Kenny/Allie Geary (FSC) 21-16, 21-15
No. 3 – Lina Bernier/Madison Besterfield (FIU) def. Courtney Charneco/Kayla Trefren (FSC) 21-10, 21-11
No. 4 – Estefanie Bethancourt/Natalia Giron (FIU) def. Katie Lowe/Kaitlin Umberhandt (FSC) 21-9, 21-4
No. 5 – Mariana Dal Pozzo/Taija Thomas (FIU) def. Emily Jones/Casey Slezak (FSC) 21-10, 21-8
 
Up Next
The Panthers get back on the court for the FIU Surf 'N' Turf Invitational, on South Beach, March 30-31.

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