Youngsville, La. - No. 2 seed FIU cruises to a 3-0 victory against No. 7 seed Missouri State in round one of the Conference USA Beach Volleyball Championships, winning every match in straight sets.

The day started with FIU's top pair in Giada Bianchi and Reka Orsi Toth dismantling the Bears' duo on court one. The two seniors began the winning with a 21-8 triumph in their first set, dominating again in set two with a 21-9 victory. The tandem secured the first point for the Panthers on the day, leading 1-0 with four matches left to be finished.

Zuzanna Bielak and Lucie Pokorna were the next FIU duet to complete their victory. Playing on court three, the Panthers second-winningest pair on the season won 21-9 in their first set before continuing the trend with a 21-14 conquest to give FIU their second point of the match.

Alice Pratesi and Lisa Luini battled to a victory on court two, winning both sets by a score of 21-18 and clinching round one for the Panthers. 

Kendra Brown and Lauren Huggins were on their way to a victory on court four before the match was called due to the Panthers scoring the winning point. The pair won their first set 21-16 and were four points away from a win in their second set before the match was called. On court five, Hania Taduran and Zoe Cahill dropped their first before taking their second set, 21-18. Similar to court four, the pair's match was all called before they could finish.

It is the third victory for the Panthers over Missouri State in their program history, and the first since the Bears joined CUSA this season. 

UP NEXT
The Panthers will take on in-state rival, No. 3 seed Florida Atlantic, in round two of the tournament after the Owls took their match over No. 6 seed UTEP, 3-0. The two schools have met twice this season, with FIU winning both matches, first beating the Florida Atlantic 4-1, and again triumphing over their South Florida counterpart, 3-1 in the Panthers' last match of the regular season.

FIU fell to Florida Atlantic in the 2023 CUSA Beach Volleyball Championships last season and will look to rectify that loss this season.

The winner of the match will go on to face the victor of No. 5 Tulane and No. 1 TCU. The loser heads to the consolation bracket with their opponent to be determined. 

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.