Tampa, Fla. – No. 17 FIU ended their first meet of the regular season Sunday afternoon, going 2-2 at the Tampa Invite. The Panthers beat No. 14 Washington and Tampa in their final two matches of the weekend after dropping their first two to No. 13 Georgia State and No. 16 Florida Atlantic.
Day One
The Panthers began the event against Georgia State, with FIU dropping the contest 3-2. Junior Julia Panko and senior Ola Chudzik outlasted GSU on flight three, dropping their first set before winning their next two in a row, 21-18 and 17-15 in a gritty final set. Sophomore Katarina Drozd and freshman Brianna Luoma, both in their first years with FIU, gained a point for the Panthers on flight four. The pair lost in set one before cruising to a win set two two, 21-11, and sealing their victory in the third set, 15-11.
FIU went on to play their in-state rival, Florida Atlantic, later in the day, dropping the contest to the No. 16 team in the country. The Panthers started the match hot, gaining the first two points thanks to victories from flights five and four. Senior Zoe Cahill, paired with freshman Hailey Heflin, won in straight sets. The duo first cruised to a 21-15 victory before winning 21-14 in set two. Katarina Drozd and Brianna Luoma continued to impress in their second match of the day, winning their first set 25-23, before dropping set two. The pair battled to a 15-13 victory in set three, winning their second match of the season and putting the Panthers up 2-0. The Panthers would drop the next three sets, leading to their second loss of the afternoon.
Day Two
The Panthers took their first game of day two of the Tampa Invite, defeating No. 14 Washington, 3-2. The Huskies won the first game on court five, but FIU responded with a win of their own from sophomore Katarina Drozd and freshman Brianna Luoma. The pair won in straight sets, first winning 21-19 in set one before taking set two 24-22. Washington won on court two, but the Panthers took the matches on courts one and three to seal the victory. Senior Maria Vinatea and sophomore Ella Gray took care of business on court one, winning in straight sets 21-15, and 21-14. Senior Ola Chudzik and junior Julia Panko clinched the match for FIU on court three, dropping set one before winning set two 22-20, and set three 15-12.
FIU completed the Tampa Invite with a victory over the host school, Tampa. The Panthers dominated the Spartans, securing the gentleman's sweep with a 4-1 victory. Maria Sanchez and Ella gray won in straight sets on court one, 21-14 and 21-17. Ola Chudzik and Julia Panko followed up with a victory of their own in straight sets on court three, 21-18 and 21-15. Katarina Drozd and Brianna Luoma secured victory on court four in straight sets, winning 21-18 before a 21-14 win. Finally, Zoe Cahill and Hailey Heflin won 21-19 before a 21-16 win in straight sets.
FIU won their first two matches of the season on day two of the Tampa Invite, including victories over the No. 14 team in the county in Washington, and the reining Division II National Champions in Tampa.
UP NEXT
FIU will be home for their first of two home matches this season, welcoming Southern Miss., Utah, Florida Atlantic and Palm Beach Atlantic to the FIU Beach Volleyball Courts on Friday February 28, and Saturday March 1.
SOCIAL MEDIA
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