MIAMI (April 11, 2019) – The No. 8-ranked FIU beach volleyball team returns to the sand for the second time in the past three days, and the final time for the 2019 regular season, as the Panthers make the short trip up Interstate-95 to face No. 10 Stetson at the Florida Atlantic University Beach Volleyball Courts in Boca Raton. First serve is slated for 12 p.m.
FIU, 14-9 overall on the year, is coming off a dominating 5-0 win over Florida Southern on Wednesday afternoon in Lakeland, Florida, taking the Panthers just under 40 minutes to secure the dual victory against the Mocs. The win was FIU's second-straight, its third in the last four duals and ninth win in its last 14 outings.
Stetson comes unto Friday's meeting with the Panthers with an impressive 23-8 record and winners of its last seven-straight duals. FIU and the Hatters have met twice this season with the Panthers winning both duals, 5-0 on Feb. 23, during the first weekend of the season, and on March 29, 3-2, during the first day of the FIU Surf 'N' Turf Invitational on South Beach.
FIU boasts one of the most dominating pairs in collegiate beach volleyball,
Federica Frasca and
Margherita Bianchin, who come into Friday with an impressive 19-4 record on the season, and a 17-3 mark on court one. The Italian tandem is currently ranked No. 6 in the nation at number one, by Collegebeachvb.com, and are the reigning American Volleyball Coaches Association/Collegebeachvb.com National Pair of the Week, for the week ending April 7.
In addition to Frasca and Bianchin, the duo of
Lina Bernier and
Erika Zembyla are ranked No. 6 in the nation at No. 4, with a 12-4 record and a 9-3 ledger on court four, while
Katie Friesen and
Madison Besterfield are ranked No. 21 on court five with an 8-6 record, with all their matches taking place on court five.
Up Next
Following its dual against Stetson on Friday, FIU will head to the Coastal Collegiate Sports Association Championships, April 19-21, in Emerson, Georgia, at the LakePoint Sports Complex.
Social Media
Fans are encouraged to follow the Panthers on Twitter (@FIUVolleyball) and become a fan on Facebook (Facebook.com/FIUBeach) 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).
