The Basics
- The FIU beach volleyball team turned in a solid 2-1 record during the first day of the seventh annual FIU Surf 'N' Turf Invitational on South Beach Friday afternoon. The Panthers, who finish the day 10-6 overall and 2-1 in Coastal Collegiate Sports Association play, defeated No. 10 Stetson and No. 16 Grand Canyon, each by a score of 3-2, before closing out the day with a 4-1 loss to No. 4 LSU.
Dual One Details
FIU 3, Stetson 2
FIU (9-5), Stetson (16-5)
Rankings: FIU – ACVA No. 8, Stetson – ACVA No. 10
- The Panthers fell behind early to No. 10 Stetson, losing on court two, however came back to even the dual at one-apiece when
Lina Bernier and
Erika Zembyla won on court four, 21-15, 21-18.
Katie Friesen and
Madison Besterfield followed that up with a victory at the No. 5 position, 21-16, 22-20, before
Federica Frasca and
Margherita Bianchin got FIU the dual win, taking court one, 21-17, 19-21, 16-14.
Results
No. 1 –
Federica Frasca/
Margherita Bianchin (FIU) vs. Carly Perales/Sunniva Helland-Hansen (SU), 21-17, 19-21, 16-14
No. 2 – Darby Dunn/Sammee Thomas (SU) def. Allison Denney/
Nina Petranovic (FIU), 21-13, 21-12
No. 3 – Rachel Noble/Ana Costa (SU) def.
Dorina Klinger/
Ronja Klinger (FIU), 23-21, 12-21, 15-13
No. 4 –
Lina Bernier/
Erika Zembyla (FIU) def. Julie Varga/Sam Harris (SU), 21-15, 21-18
No. 5 –
Katie Friesen/
Madison Besterfield (FIU) def. Rebecca Ingram/Quinci Birker (SU), 21-16, 22-20
Ext. – Alexa Richardson/Yasmin Kuck (SU) def.
Brooke McDermott/
Helene Thelle (FIU), 21-14, 21-19
Order of finish: 2, 4, 5, 1, 3
Dual Two Details
FIU 3, Grand Canyon 2
FIU (10-5), Grand Canyon (13-5)
Rankings: FIU – ACVA No. 8, Grand Canyon – ACVA No. 16
- FIU won its fourth-straight dual, and its fifth in its last six outings, as the Panthers defeated No. 16 Grand Canyon, 3-2, in its second dual of the day. After
Federica Frasca and
Margherita Bianchin made quick work of their foes from Grand Canyon, 21-16, 21-12, for the first win of the dual, the Panthers fell behind in the contest, 2-1. FIU regrouped, however, to take the final two duals to secure the victory.
Lina Bernier and
Erika Zembyla took court four, 21-17, 15-21, 18-16, while
Dorina Klinger and
Ronja Klinger closed out the win on court two, 21-15, 18-21, 15-8.
Results
No. 1 –
Federica Frasca/
Margherita Bianchin (FIU) def. Mikaela Raudsepp/Teagan DeFalco (Grand Canyon) (GCU), 21-16, 21-12
No. 2 –
Dorina Klinger/
Ronja Klinger (FIU) vs. Hannah Towne/Katie Hess (GCU), 21-15, 18-21, 15-8
No. 3 – Jessica Stansfield/Bella Bauman (GCU) def. Allison Denney/
Nina Petranovic (FIU), 21-17, 21-17
No. 4 –
Lina Bernier/
Erika Zembyla (FIU) vs. Jamie Walsh/Anaya Evans (GCU), 21-17, 15-21, 18-16
No. 5 – Taylor Jarzombek/Esmee Priem (GCU) def.
Katie Friesen/
Madison Besterfield (FIU), 21-17, 21-18
Ext. –
Mariana Dal Pozzo/
Helene Thelle (FIU) def. Micaela Miravale/Ava Elia (GCU), 21-10, 16-21, 15-13
Order of finish: 1, 3, 5, 4, 2
Dual Three Details
LSU 4, FIU 1
FIU (10-6), LSU (15-5)
Rankings: FIU – ACVA No. 8, LSU – ACVA No. 4
- The Panthers had its four-dual winning streak snapped by No. 4 LSU in the final dual of the afternoon for the Panthers. The Tigers earned the win after taking the first three victories on courts one, five and three. The Klinger sisters won their second dual of the day with a thrilling 21-19, 21-18 win at the No. 2 position, for FIU's lone point.
Results
No. 1 – Claire Coppola/Kristen Nuss (LSU) def.
Federica Frasca/
Margherita Bianchin (FIU), 21-11, 21-19
No. 2 –
Dorina Klinger/
Ronja Klinger (FIU) def. Kahlee York/Kelli Agnew (LSU), 21-19, 21-18
No. 3 – Toni Rodriguez/Ashlyn Rasnick-Pope (LSU) def.
Ali Denney/
Nina Petranovic (FIU), 21-18, 21-15
No. 4 – Olivia Beyer/Maddie Ligon (LSU) def.
Lina Bernier/
Erika Zembyla (FIU), 13-21, 21-19, 15-11
No. 5 – Allison Coens/Hunter Domanski (LSU) def.
Katie Friesen/
Madison Besterfield (FIU), 23-21, 22-20
Exh. – Ashley Allmer/Taryn Kloth (LSU) def. Mariano Dal Pozzo.
Ashley Klassen (FIU), 21-8, 21-10
Order of finish: 1, 5, 3, 2, 4
Up Next
The Panthers will close out play in the FIU Surf 'N' Turf Invitational on Saturday, March 30. FIU starts the day against Tulane at 9 a.m. before butting heads with No. 3 Florida State at 1 p.m. Following the dual against the Seminoles, the FIU beach volleyball program will honor its seniors
Brooke McDermott,
Mariana Dal Pozzo,
Erika Zembyla,
Dorina Klinger and
Katie Friesen. The Panthers will close out the day against No. 1-ranked – and defending NCAA Champions – UCLA at 4 p.m.
Social Media
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).
