The Basics
- The No. 9-ranked FIU beach volleyball team began play in the prestigious East Meets West Invitational, on Saturday in Manhattan Beach, California, and faced the top two teams in the country according to the American Volleyball Coaches Association Top 20 poll. The Panthers dropped both of its duals on the day to No. 2 USC, 3-2, and No. 1-ranked UCLA, 4-1.

Dual One Details
USC 3, FIU 2 
FIU (5-1), USC (7-1)
Dual One Box Score
Rankings: FIU – ACVA No. 9/DiG No. 9, USC – ACVA No. 2/DiG No. 2
Manhattan Beach, California | Manhattan Beach Pier

- In the first dual of the day, FIU went toe-to-toe with one of the traditional beach volleyball powers, USC, who came into the dual ranked No. 2 in this week's American Volleyball Coaches Association poll. The Panthers found themselves in a dog-fight, however, the Women of Troy pulled out a grueling 3-2 win over FIU, handing the Panthers their first loss of the season.

- USC jumped out on top winning on court one, 21-12, 21-12, to take a 1-0 lead, before Lina Bernier (San Juan, Puerto Rico) and Erika Zembyla (Nicosia, Cypress) got the Panthers on the board with a 21-10, 18-21, 15-10 win on court four to even the dual up at one apiece. After the Women of Troy regained a 2-1 edge with a win at the No. 2 position (21-14, 21-23, 16-14), Madison Besterfield (Tampa, Florida) and Katie Friesen (Manitoba, Canada) took down USC's pair on court five, 22-20, 14-21, 15-10.

- With the dual knotted at two apiece, the final point came down to court three and Dorina Klinger (Feldkirchen, Austria) and sister Ronja Klinger (Frauental, Austria) against USC's Alexandra Poletto and Haley Hallgre. The Klinger's struck first, giving the Panthers a lead, after a 25-23 win in the first set. Poletto and Hallgre, however came back in sets two and three to defeat the sisters, in two back-and-forth affairs, 21-19 and 15-13, to secure the dual win.

Results
No. 1. Tina Graudina/Abril Bustamante (USC) def. Allison Denney/Abbie Hughes (FIU), 21-12, 21-12
No. 2. Sammy Slater/Terese Cannon (USC) def. Federica Frasca/Margherita Bianchin (FIU), 21-14, 21-23, 16-14
No. 3. Alexandra Poletto/Haley Hallgren (USC) def. Dorina Klinger/Ronja Klinger (FIU), 23-25, 21-19, 15-13
No. 4. Lina Bernier/Erika Zembyla (FIU) def. Joy Dennis/Maja Kaiser (USC), 21-10, 18-21, 15-10
No. 5. Katie Friesen/Madison Besterfield (FIU) def. Mollie Ebertin/Cammie Dorn (USC), 22-20, 14-21, 15-10

Order of Finish: 1, 4, 2, 5, 3*

Dual Two Details
UCLA 4, FIU 1 
FIU (5-2), UCLA (12-0)
Dual Two Box Score
Rankings: FIU – ACVA No. 9/DiG No. 9, UCLA – ACVA No. 1/DiG No. 1
Manhattan Beach, California | Manhattan Beach Pier

- In the final dual of the afternoon, the Panthers faced the reigning NCAA national champions, and current No. 1-ranked team in the nation, UCLA. The Bruins took control early and didn't let up, defeating FIU 4-1.

- The Panthers fell behind 2-0 in the dual before Federica Frasca (Rome, Italy) and Margherita Bianchin (Venice, Italy) recorded FIU's lone point of the contest with a 21-18, 21-17 win on court two.

- The blue and gold had opportunities on courts three and five with each dual going three sets. At the No. 3 position Dorina and Ronja Klinger forced a third set, after tying the dual up at one apiece with a second set win, 21-18. The sisters would drop set three, and the match, 23-21, 18-21, 15-11. On four five, Katie Friesen and Madison Besterfield fell in a close contest, 21-15, 19-21, 15-13.

Results
No. 1. Megan McNamara/Nicole McNamara (UCLA) def. Allison Denney/Abbie Hughes (FIU), 21-13, 21-16
No. 2. Federica Frasca/Margherita Bianchin (FIU) def. Sarah Sponcil/Lily Justine (UCLA), 21-18, 21-17
No. 3. Zana Muno/Abby Van Winkle (UCLA) def. Dorina Klinger/Ronja Klinger (FIU), 23-21, 18-21, 15-11
No. 4. Savvy Simo/Lea Monkhouse (UCLA) def. Lina Bernier/Erika Zembyla (FIU), 21-14, 21-17
No. 5. Lindsey Sparks/Izzy Carey (UCLA) def. Katie Friesen/Madison Besterfield (FIU), 21-15, 19-21, 15-13

Order of Finish: 1, 4, 2, 5*, 3  

Up Next
The Panthers will close out the East Meets West Invitational on Sunday, March 10 when it takes on No. 5 Hawaii at 12 p.m. ET before closing out the weekend against No. 3 Pepperdine at 5 p.m.

#####

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).