Pompano Beach, Fla. – No. 12 FIU posted a 3-1 record at the FAU Invite on Pompano Beach, beating all three schools from Florida that participated in the event, including No. 16 Florida Atlantic.

Day One

The Panthers began the weekend against the Eagles of Florida Gulf Coast University, winning in convincing fashion 4-1. Junior Zoe Cahill and sophomore Kendra Brown held down court five, claiming victory in the first set 21-17, then completing the sweep with a 23-21 win in set set. On court four, graduate student Lauren Huggins and Junior Maria Vinatea also swept the Eagles, first winning 21-16, then going on to claim victory 21-18 the next set. Graduate student Alice Pratesi and junior Lisa Luini continue to be mainstays on court two, dominating in a two set sweep 21-14 then 21-19. Senior Giada Bianchi and graduate student Reka Orsi Toth stayed undefeated on the season with a 21-8 and 21-16 sweep to give the Panthers their 12th win of the year.

FIU would not have to wait long to secure win number 13, facing Palm Beach Atlantic for the third time this season and winning the match 5-0. Giada Bianchi and Reka Orsi Toth once again set the tone on court one, cruising to a 21-13, 21-7 sweep. The duo was followed by Alice Pratesi and Lisa Luini, winning in straight sets on 21-17 and 21-11 on court 2. Lucie Pokorna and Zuzanna Bielak followed suit on court three with 21-17 and 21-9 victories, while Lauren Huggins and Maria Vinatea finished off their victory in three sets, dropping their first one before winning their next two 21-17 and 15-12. Ariana Castro and Zoe Cahill finished off the sweep on court five with a 21-19 and 21-14 sweep. 

 

 

Day Two

Despite each individual match being competitive, FIU dropped their third match of the invite to the number one ranked team in the country in USC 5-0.

The Panthers' last opponent of the invite came against cross-town rival, No. 16 Florida Atlantic, with FIU coming out on top 4-1. Lauren Huggins and Kendra Brown started off FIU with a gritty win in three sets on court four. The pair won their first 21-15 before dropping their second and going on to capitalize with a 15-9 victory in the third. Lucie Pokorna and Zuzanna Bielak, once again on court three, defeated their opponent in straight sets 21-15 and 27-25. Giada Bianchi and Reka Orsi Toth sealed the Panthers' victory in straight sets, 21-16 and 21-15 on court one, and Alice Pratesi and Lisa Luini won the Panthers their fourth victory in three sets on court two. The pair dropped their first set before winning 21-19 and 17-15 in their next two. This gave the Panthers their 20th win in program history over the rival Owls.

 

UP NEXT

The Panthers next match will be at the TCU Invitational in Fort Worth, Texas. They will face a tough schedule, where the No. 12 Panthers will play the likes of the University of Washington, TCU, Arizona State and Florida Gulf Coast University. The event will start on March 22 and run through the next day of March 23.

SOCIAL MEDIA 

Get all the latest information on the team by following @FIUbeach on Instagram, or @FIUBeachVB on Twitter, and @FIUBeach on Facebook. General athletic news can also be found at @FIUSports on Facebook and @FIUAthletics on Twitter and Instagram.