MIAMI – The FIU beach volleyball tandem of
Margherita Bianchin (Venice, Italy) and
Federica Frasca (Rome, Italy) have been named to the Coastal Collegiate Sports Association (CCSA) Preseason All-Conference Team, the league announced this afternoon.
Click here to see complete CCSA Preseason All-Conference Team.
Bianchin and Frasca were CCSA All-Conference and All-Tournament selections, and capped the year being named American Volleyball Coaches Association Beach Volleyball All-Americans at the conclusion of the 2018 campaign. Playing at the No. 1 position all season, the duo was one of the most dominating pairs in collegiate beach volleyball during the entire season, turning in a stellar 27-8 record on the year. The tandem was one of just six duos nationwide, at No. 1, that posted 25-or-more wins, and finished the year ranked the No. 10 pair in the nation at the No. 1 spot (according to Collegebeachvb.com). They finished the season winning 20 of their last 27 matches on the year, which included a stretch of 13-straight wins from March 10 – starting with a victory over No. 6 ranked Nicole and Megan McNamara of the eventual NCAA national champion, UCLA – through March 30, and a win against No. 35 Moly Turner and Hannah Towne of Grand Canyon.
The Panthers begin play on Friday, Feb. 22, at 10 a.m., when it takes to the court to face Saint Leo during the first day of the Stetson University Spring Fling in DeLand, Florida. FIU will close out the day against Eckerd at 4 p.m., before ending the weekend on Saturday, Feb. 23, against No. 17 Stetson (10 a.m.) and No. 13 Georgia State (4 p.m.).
Last season, the Panthers posted a 23-12 record, and a 7-3 mark in Coastal Collegiate Sports Association play, advancing to their first-ever NCAA Championships in Gulf Shores, Alabama. FIU finished the year ranked No. 9 in the final AVCA poll, and No. 10 in the final DiG Magazine rankings.
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