The Basics
- The No. 9 FIU beach volleyball team defeated Concordia University in Irvine, California, to start off a competitive weekend on the West Coast. The Panthers dominated the Eagles, 5-0, in their only match of the day at the Great Park Beach Volleyball Complex. FIU improves to 5-0 on the year, its best start in the program's short seven-year history. In addition, the Panthers equaled its longest streak without giving up a set, a feat it has accomplished only two times previously. FIU has swept all five of its opponents to start the season.
Dual Details
FIU 5, Concordia 0
FIU (5-0), Concordia (4-2)
Rankings: FIU – ACVA No. 9/DiG No. 9, Concordia – NR
Irvine, California | Great Park Beach Volleyball Complex
- The Panthers are the highest ranked team that the Eagles have battled to date, and made quick work of Concordia holding the Eagles to 10-or-fewer points in seven of the 10 sets. FIU won in straight-sets for the fifth time this season.
- The All-America tandem of
Margherita Bianchin (Venice, Italy) and
Federica Frasca (Rome, Italy) continue their domination winning their fifth dual this season. The Italian duo played on the No. 2 court for just the third time in their careers as a pair, improving to 3-0. Bianchin and Frasca also improve to 52-13 all-time as a tandem.
- This was the first meeting between the Panthers and Eagles.
Results
No. 1 –
Ali Denney/
Abbie Hughes (FIU) def. Avery Keathley/Kya Bock (CUI), 21-11, 21-6
No. 2 –
Margherita Bianchin/
Federica Frasca (FIU) def. Asia O'Neil/ Vanessa Bernzen (CUI), 21-10, 21-16
No. 3 –
Lina Bernier/
Erika Zembyla (FIU) def. Isabella Brown/Hailee Ryan (CUI), 21-18, 21-7
No. 4 –
Dorina Klinger/
Ronja Klinger (FIU) def. Katherine McCarty/ Madelyn Clark (CUI), 21-8, 21-8
No. 5 –
Katie Friesen/
Madison Besterfield (FIU) def. Malory Hanenburg/Hana Wilson (CUI), 21-5, 21-10
Up Next
FIU has a quick turnaround as it takes part in the prestigious East Meets West Invitational in Manhattan Beach, California, March 9-10. The Panthers will take on four of the top five teams in the America Volleyball Coaches Association Preseason poll; USC (No. 2) and defending NCAA National Champion UCLA (No. 1) on March 9, and Hawaii (No. 5) and Pepperdine (No. 3) on March 10.
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