Beach Volleyball Falls In Season Opener To No. 6 FIU, 5-0

FORT LAUDERDALE, Florida – The University of New Orleans beach volleyball took the dunes on Friday looking to prove that things would be different in its second season as a varsity program. Florida International, however, had other ideas as the Privateers dropped a 5-0 decision to the sixth-ranked team in the Preseason AVCA Top 10 in the opening day of the FIU Fort Lauderdale Beach Invitational.

All five sets came in straight sets with the closest match coming on Court 3 where freshman Blessing Dunn and senior Lauren Levy dropped a 21-14, 21-12 decision to the Panthers' Dominique Dodd and Tina Toghiyani. The loss to FIU was the first of three matches the Privateers will play over the weekend in the Sunshine State as UNO will take on Jacksonville and LSU on Saturday at 8 a.m. (CST) and 10 a.m., respectively.

"Today's outing was a great learning experience for the team," UNO head coach Millicent Van Norden said. "We competed against a very strong and poised FIU team. We had some opportunities throughout competition that we missed and I attribute that to our inexperience in certain positions. I believe there is a ton of room for growth with this team this season. They are eager to learn and get better each point. If we can extend our strengths for longer periods in each set, we will always have the chance to win. I'm looking forward to the opportunity to compete tomorrow against Jacksonville and LSU."

At the top of the lineup, UNO freshman Shaylene Reimer and sophomore Cara Sander fell 21-10, 21-11 to Aren Cupp and Martyna Gluchewicz while the senior tandem of Celeste Ramirez and Milica Zmiric lost 21-6, 21-10 to FIU's Marina Boulanger and Anabela Sataric in NO. 2 play.

The Panthers' Estafanie Bethancourt and Anne Marie Taylor took down the Privateers' pair of junior Brooklyn Frank and freshman Samantha Uline by scores of 21-14, 2-10 and the team of Savannah Davis and Natalia Gorin followed suit in No. 5 play with a 21-7, 21-11 decision over UNO freshman Madison Miller and junior Courtney Roblez.

Following the weekend in Fort Lauderdale, UNO returns to action on Saturday, March 12, when the Privateers head to Baton Rouge open play in the Tiger Beach Challenge against FIU, ULM and Georgia State. After a three-match day, New Orleans will play a single contest on Sunday, March 13, against Stetson.
 
FIU PANTHERS (1-0) DEFEAT NEW ORLEANS PRIVATEERS (0-1): 5-0
 
No. 1: Aren Cupp / Martyna Gluchewicz (FIU) def. Shaylene Reimer / Cara Sander  (UNO) – 21-10, 21-11
No. 2: Marina Boulanger / Anabela Sataric (FIU) def. Celeste Ramirez / Milica Zmiric (UNO) – 21-6, 21-10
No. 3: Dominique Dodd / Tina Toghiyani (FIU) def. Blessing Dunn / Lauren Levy (UNO) – 21-14, 21-12
No. 4: Estefanie Bethancourt / Anne Marie Taylor (FIU) def. Brooklyn Frank / Samantha Uline (UNO) – 21-14, 21-10
No. 5: Savannah Davis / Natalia Giron (FIU) def. Madison Miller / Courtney Roblez (UNO) – 21-7, 21-11