Long Beach, Ca. – The No. 13 FIU Beach Volleyball team (11-2) splits their matches in the Long Beach State Invite, headlined by a victory over No. 6 LMU.
Day One
FIU started out the tournament facing No. 11 Cal Poly. Graduate student Lucie Pokorna and junior Zuzanna Bielak continue to be a force on court three, battling to a win in three sets. The Panthers' number one duo, senior Giada Bianchi and graduate student Reka Orsi Toth continue to dominate, claiming victory on court one. Despite the victories on courts one and three, FIU dropped the match 3-2 for their first loss of the season.
The Panthers bounce back in a big way against No. 6 LMU, winning against the highest ranked team FIU played at the invite 3-2. The Panthers' first, second and third pairs emerged victorious on their respective courts. Lucie Pokorna and Zuzanna Bielak once again win on court three, besting their competition in straight sets. Junior Lisa Luini and graduate student Alice Pratesi take down the Lions on court two, dropping one before coming out with the win on the third set. On court one, Giada Biachi and Reka Orsi Toth fight off a tough match where every match was decided by five points or fewer. The duo achieved the hard-fought win in the third set 16-14, securing the Panthers' first victory over a ranked opponent this season.
Cal Poly 3, FIU Beach Volleyball 2
Doubles competition
1. Giada Bianchi/Reka Orsi Toth (FIU) def. Izzy Martinez/Ella Connor (CP) 17-21, 21-12, 15-12 2. Piper Ferch/Erin Inskeep (CP) def. Lisa Luini/Alice Pratesi (FIU) 21-18, 21-14
3. Lucie Pokorna/Zuzanna Bielak (FIU) def. Logan Walter/Piper Naess (CP) 16-21, 21-10, 15-9 4. Quinn Perry/Madison Nichols (CP) def. Emma Braticevic/Zoe Cahill (FIU) 21-18, 21-13 5. Julia Soeller/Abbey Reinard (CP) def. Lauren Huggins/Maria Sanchez (FIU) 17-21, 21-19, 15-8
FIU 3, LMU 2
Doubles competition
1. Giada Bianchi/Reka Orsi Toth (FIU) def. Prihti, Vilhelmiina/Shaffer, Michelle (LMU) 21-16, 17-21, 16-14 2. Lisa Luini/Alice Pratesi (FIU) def. Thorup, Abbey/Reffel, Isabelle (LMU) 21-19, 17-21, 16-14
3. Zuzanna Bielak/Lucie Pokorna (FIU) def. Firnett, Madi/Pelloia, Anna (LMU) 24-22, 21-17
4. Stevens, Alisha/Hooker, Chloe (LMU) def. Lauren Huggins/Maria Sanchez (FIU) 21-14, 21-11 5. Chinn, Cassie/Stanfill, Alison (LMU) def. Hania Taduran/Zoe Cahill (FIU) 21-14, 21-13
Day Two
After splitting their first two matches on day one of the invite, FIU dropped their third match to No. 9 LBSU 4-1. Giada Bianchi and Reka Orsi Toth were the lone bright spot of the match for FIU, beating the Long Beach's top duo on court one in straight sets 21-18 and 21-19.
FIU once again bounced back in the second match of the day, beating Santa Clara 4-1. FIU's first four courts showed out, with junior Zoe Cahill and senior Lauren Huggins dropping their first set before winning their next two in a row to outlast the Broncos in three sets on court four. On court three, Lucie Pokorna and Zuzanna Bielak win in straight sets. The pair crushed their competition in the first set 21-10, but battled in the second set before pulling out the win 26-24. Lisa Luini and Alice Pratesi win again on court two, winning in straight sets 21-14 and 21-19. On court one, Giada Bianchi and Reka Orsi Toth cruise to a win 21-13 and 21-16. The pair has stayed together the entire year thus far, and are undefeated in all of their matches on the season.
Long Beach State 4, FIU Beach Volleyball 1
Doubles competition
1. Giada Bianchi/Reka Orsi Toth (FIU) def. Malia Gementera/Taylor Hagenah (LBSU) 21-18, 21-19 2. Savannah Standage/Julia Westby (LBSU) def. Lisa Luini/Alice Pratesi (FIU) 21-16, 20-22, 15-10 3. Natalie Glenn/Mo GIbson (LBSU) def. Ariana Castro/Lucie Pokorna (FIU) 21-19, 21-17
4. Megan Widener/Christine Deroos (LBSU) def. Lauren Huggins/Maria Sanchez (FIU) 21-16, 21-11 5. Kate Stoughton/Emily Sparks (LBSU) def. Emma Braticevic/Hania Taduran (FIU) 21-10, 21-12
FIU 4, Santa Clara 1
Doubles competition
1. Giada Bianchi/Reka Orsi Toth (FIU) def. Katie Kishton/Elena Radeff (SCU) 21-13, 21-16
2. Lisa Luini/Alice Pratesi (FIU) def. Ella Duffner/Noelle Niederman (SCU) 21-14, 21-19
3. Lucie Pokorna/Zuzanna Bielak (FIU) def. Casey Campbell/Hailey Benesz (SCU) 21-10, 26-24
4. Zoe Cahill/Lauren Huggins (FIU) def. Jordan Bennett/Sveva Munneke (SCU) 15-21, 21-12, 18-16 5. Alexie Epstein/Alexandra Urbina (SCU) def. Emma Braticevic/Maria Sanchez (FIU) 21-18, 23-21
UP NEXT
The Panthers will be back on the east coast to participate in the FAU Invite at Pompano Beach. FIU will take on the likes of Florida Gulf Coast University at 2:50 p.m. and Palm Beach Atlantic at 4:40 p.m. on March 15, day one. March 16, the Panthers will take on USC at 10:30 a.m. and Florida Atlantic at 4:30 on day two.
SOCIAL MEDIA
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