The Basics
- The FIU beach volleyball team closed out play in the prestigious FIU Surf 'N' Turf Invitational, on Saturday, while facing two of the top three teams in the country. The Panthers swept Tulane in the first dual of the day, 5-0, however lost to No. 3 Florida State, in a five-match thriller, 3-2, and to No. 1-ranked – and defending NCAA Champion – UCLA, 5-0. During the two-day event, widely considered the premier collegiate beach volleyball event in the country, FIU recorded a 3-3 record, while improving to 11-8 on the year and 3-2 in Coastal Collegiate Sports Association (CCSA) play.

Dual One Details
FIU 5, Tulane 0 
FIU (11-6), Tulane (14-11)
Rankings: FIU – AVCA No. 8, Tulane – AVCA RV
 
- FIU dominated Tulane in the first of two CCSA duals on the afternoon, handing the Green Wave a 5-0 loss in the Saturday opener for both schools. Madison Besterfield and Katie Friesen secured the match victory for the Panthers, taking court five, 21-13, 25-23.  
 
Results
No. 1 – Federica Frasca/Margherita Bianchin (FIU) def. Kaylie McHugh/Eva Tourruella (TU), 21-19, 14-21, 15-11
No. 2 – Dorina Klinger/Ronja Klinger (FIU) def. Lauren Orlich/Rio Frohoff (TU), 21-12, 21-16
No. 3 – Ali Denney/Nina Petranovic (FIU) def. Addison Hermstad/Tarin Mergener (TU), 21-5, 21-0 (forfeit)
No. 4 – Lina Bernier/Erika Zembyla (FIU) def. Ellie Leitko/Haley Gibson (TU), 19-21, 21-9, 15-8
No. 5 – Madison Besterfield/Katie Friesen (FIU) def. Morgan Esters/Gabriella Becerra (TU), 21-13, 25-23
 
Order of finish: 3, 2, 5, 4, 1
 
Dual Two Details
Florida State 3, FIU 2 
FIU (11-7), Florida State (17-5)
Rankings: FIU – AVCA No. 8, Florida State – AVCA No. 3
 
- FIU battled one of the top teams in the country to a fifth match in the dual, dropping a heartbreaking 3-2 decision to CCSA foe, and No. 3-ranked, Florida State. The Panthers fell behind dropping the first match on court three before Federica Frasca and Margherita Bianchin evened things up with a 21-18, 21-19 straight-set victory on court one. Dorina and Ronja Klinger put FIU up one, in the dual, 2-1, with a 21-17, 21-19 win at the No. 2 position. The Seminoles tied the dual up at two apiece with a win on court five, meaning that the dual victory came down to court four and Erika Zembyla and Lina Bernier. The Panthers' duo dropped the first set, 21-13, however they knotted the match up at one, taking set two, 21-19. Bernier and Zembyla battled but fell in the end as FSU took the set, 15-12, and the dual win.
 
- Following the grueling dual against the Seminoles, the Panthers honored their three seniors, Zembyla, Friesen, Brooke McDermott, Dorina Klinger and Mariana Dal Pozzo.
 
- Saturday's contest is the first of two that FIU will play against Florida State, as the Panthers travel to Tallahassee next weekend for the FSU Invitational. FIU will take on the Seminoles on Friday April 5, 2019, at 1:30 p.m.
 
Results
No. 1 – Federica Frasca/Margherita Bianchin (FIU) def. Alaina Chacon/Madison Fitzpatrick (FSU), 21-18, 21-19
No. 2 – Dorina Klinger/Ronja Klinger (FIU) def. Sara Putt/Payton Rund (FSU), 21-17, 21-19
No. 3 – Molly McBain/Payton Paffrey (FSU) def. Ali Denney/Nina Petranovic (FIU), 21-15, 21-11
No. 4 –Macy Jerger/Kate Privett (FSU) def. Lina Bernier/Erika Zembyla (FIU), 13-21, 21-19, 15-12
No. 5 – Brooke Kuhlman/Avery Poppinga (FSU) def. Katie Friesen/Madison Besterfield (FIU), 21-17, 21-11
Exh. – Nikki Esposito/Morgan Chacon (FSU) def. Ashley Klassen/Brooke McDermott (FIU), 21-14, 24-22
 
Order of finish: 3, 1, 2, 5, 4
 
Dual Three Details
UCLA 5, FIU 0 
UCLA (21-0), FIU (11-8)
Rankings: UCLA – ACVA No. 1, FIU – ACVA No. 8
 
- FIU's final match of the Surf 'N' Turf came against the No. 1-ranked team in the country, UCLA, who made quick work of the Panthers, defeating FIU 5-0. FIU took just one match to a third set, with Erika Zembyla and Ali Denney falling on court three, 21-18, 20-22, 15-11.
 
Results
No. 1 – Megan McNamara/Nicole McNamara (UCLA) def. Federica Frasca/Margherita Bianchin (FIU), 21-14, 24-22
No. 2 – Sarah Sponcil/Lily Justine (UCLA) def. Dorina Klinger/Ronja Klinger (FIU), 21-13, 21-17
No. 3 – Zana Muno/Abby Van Winkle (UCLA) def. Ali Denney/Erika Zembyla (FIU), 21-18, 20-22, 15-11
No. 4 – Savvy Simo/Lea Monkhouse (UCLA) def. Katie Friesen/Nina Petranovic (FIU), 21-10, 21-13
No. 5 – Izzy Carey/Lindsey Sparks (UCLA) def. Lina Bernier/Madison Besterfield (FIU), 21-15, 21-8
 
Order of finish: 5, 4, 1, 2, 3

Up Next
The Panthers will now head to Tallahassee to take part in the FSU Invitational, April 4-5. During the opening day, FIU will take on No. 19 Georgia State at 9 a.m. and Florida State at 1:30 p.m. The Panthers will close out the weekend against No. 15 Florida Atlantic at 9:30 a.m.

Social Media
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