MIAMI (April 4, 2019) – The No. 8-ranked FIU beach volleyball team heads to the Florida panhandle this weekend to take part in the Florida State University Invitational, April 5-6, at the FSU Beach Volleyball Courts. With just three weeks left until the Coastal Collegiate Sports Association (CCSA) Conference Championships in Emerson, Georgia, April 19-21, this weekend's duals, against three teams ranked in the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Top 20, will prove to be crucial.
The Panthers begin the two-day event on April 5, when it takes on No. 17 Georgia State at 9 a.m. before closing out the day against the third-ranked – and host – Seminoles at 1 p.m. This will be the second meeting between FIU and Florida State in the last week, with the Seminoles winning an epic five-set dual, 3-2, on March 30 during the Surf 'N' Turf Invitational on South Beach. The Panthers will conclude the weekend on April 6 at 9:30 a.m. against No. 16 Florida Atlantic.
FIU, 11-8 on the year and 3-2 in CCSA play, posted a 3-3 record this past weekend during the Surf 'N' Turf Invitational. On March 29, the Panthers 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. FIU closed out play in the two-day event, on March 30, 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.
FIU will close out the regular season on the road next week, as the Panthers travel to Florida Southern on April 10 at 4 p.m., before officially ending the regular-season slate at Florida Atlantic on April 12, at 2 p.m.
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