University Southern California Trojans
Saturday, March 9
Manhattan Beach, Calif.
8:40 AM
USC
3
vs
2
Florida International vs. USC
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Beach Volleyball
/ Women's Beach Volleyball
/ Women's Beach Volleyball
/ Women's Beach Volleyball
/ Women's Beach Volleyball
/ Women's Beach Volleyball
/ Women's Beach Volleyball
/ Women's Beach Volleyball
/ Women's Beach Volleyball
/ Women's Beach Volleyball
No. 2 USC Fights Off No. 9 Florida International For 3-2 Win
March 09, 2019 | Women's Beach Volleyball, Features
The Women of Troy got a pair of three-set wins to clinch a 3-2 victory over the Panthers at the East Meets West Invitational
MANHATTAN BEACH, Calif. – The No. 2-ranked USC beach volleyball team (7-1) extended its winning streak to six consecutive duals with a hard-fought 3-2 win over No. 9 Florida International (5-1) at the East Meets West Invitational on Saturday, March 9, at the Manhattan Beach Pier.
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The win was the Trojans' fifth all-time against the Panthers without a loss. The last time the teams met, USC won a 3-2 decision in Gulf Shores, Ala., at the 2018 NCAA championship (May 4).
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In the only match to go two sets, senior Abril Bustamante and sophomore Tina Graudina made short work of Ali Denney and Abbie Hughes at the top court with a 21-12, 21-12 victory. It was the eighth straight victory for the top USC tandem and their 39th all-time. The Panthers equalized with the first three-set win of the day on court four. There, Lina Bernier and Erika Zembyla defeated junior Joy Dennis and sophomore Maja Kaiser, 21-10, in the first set, but were forced to a third after Dennis and Kaiser won the second, 21-18. The Panther duo clamped down and got a 15-10 win in the third.
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USC went back in front with a win at the No. 2 position. Senior Terese Cannon and sophomore Sammy Slater took down Federica Frasca and Margherita Bianchin, 21-14, in the first, but dropped a narrow 23-21 decision in the second. Cannon and Slater fought for every point down the stretch to get a 16-14 win and give USC a 2-1 lead. FIU had a response and pulled even with a win at No. 5. Katie Friesen and Madison Besterfield took down junior Cammie Dorn and freshman Mollie Ebertin, 22-20, 14-21, 15-10, for the dual point.
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The clinching point came from the No. 3 position where sophomore Haley Hallgren and senior Alexandra Poletto dropped a 25-23 first set to Dorina and Ronja Klinger, but fought back to get the match to a third set with a 21-19 win over the Panther sisters. In a back-and-forth third set, the USC tandem prevailed with a 15-13 win to maintain its perfect 8-0 mark on the season.
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Up next, the Trojans face No. 19 TCU (5-3) at 1:30 p.m. PT in its second match of the day. USC plays No. 6 Louisiana State on Sunday, March 10, at 10 a.m. and then concludes the tourney with a rematch against No. 4 Florida State.
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For more information on the three-time national champion USC beach volleyball team and a complete schedule, please visit USCTrojans.com and follow @USCBeach on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
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No. 2 USC def. No. 9 Florida International, 3-2
East Meets West Invitational
Manhattan Beach Pier • Manhattan Beach, Calif.
Saturday, March 9, 2019
Records: USC (7-1), Florida International (5-1)
1. Abril Bustamante/Tina Graudina (USC) def. Ali Denney/Abbie Hughes (FIU); 21-12, 21-12
2. Terese Cannon/Sammy Slater (USC) def. Federica Frasca/Margherita Bianchin (FIU); 21-14, 21-23, 16-14
3. Haley Hallgren/Alexandra Poletto (USC) def. Dorina Klinger/Ronja Klinger (FIU); 23-25, 21-19, 15-13
4. Lina Bernier/Erika Zembyla (FIU) def. Joy Dennis/Maja Kaiser (USC); 21-10, 18-21, 15-10
5. Katie Friesen/Madison Besterfield (FIU) def. Cammie Dorn/Mollie Ebertin (USC); 22-20, 14-21, 15-10
Order of finish: 1, 4, 2, 5, 3*
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The win was the Trojans' fifth all-time against the Panthers without a loss. The last time the teams met, USC won a 3-2 decision in Gulf Shores, Ala., at the 2018 NCAA championship (May 4).
Â
In the only match to go two sets, senior Abril Bustamante and sophomore Tina Graudina made short work of Ali Denney and Abbie Hughes at the top court with a 21-12, 21-12 victory. It was the eighth straight victory for the top USC tandem and their 39th all-time. The Panthers equalized with the first three-set win of the day on court four. There, Lina Bernier and Erika Zembyla defeated junior Joy Dennis and sophomore Maja Kaiser, 21-10, in the first set, but were forced to a third after Dennis and Kaiser won the second, 21-18. The Panther duo clamped down and got a 15-10 win in the third.
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USC went back in front with a win at the No. 2 position. Senior Terese Cannon and sophomore Sammy Slater took down Federica Frasca and Margherita Bianchin, 21-14, in the first, but dropped a narrow 23-21 decision in the second. Cannon and Slater fought for every point down the stretch to get a 16-14 win and give USC a 2-1 lead. FIU had a response and pulled even with a win at No. 5. Katie Friesen and Madison Besterfield took down junior Cammie Dorn and freshman Mollie Ebertin, 22-20, 14-21, 15-10, for the dual point.
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The clinching point came from the No. 3 position where sophomore Haley Hallgren and senior Alexandra Poletto dropped a 25-23 first set to Dorina and Ronja Klinger, but fought back to get the match to a third set with a 21-19 win over the Panther sisters. In a back-and-forth third set, the USC tandem prevailed with a 15-13 win to maintain its perfect 8-0 mark on the season.
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Up next, the Trojans face No. 19 TCU (5-3) at 1:30 p.m. PT in its second match of the day. USC plays No. 6 Louisiana State on Sunday, March 10, at 10 a.m. and then concludes the tourney with a rematch against No. 4 Florida State.
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For more information on the three-time national champion USC beach volleyball team and a complete schedule, please visit USCTrojans.com and follow @USCBeach on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
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No. 2 USC def. No. 9 Florida International, 3-2
East Meets West Invitational
Manhattan Beach Pier • Manhattan Beach, Calif.
Saturday, March 9, 2019
Records: USC (7-1), Florida International (5-1)
1. Abril Bustamante/Tina Graudina (USC) def. Ali Denney/Abbie Hughes (FIU); 21-12, 21-12
2. Terese Cannon/Sammy Slater (USC) def. Federica Frasca/Margherita Bianchin (FIU); 21-14, 21-23, 16-14
3. Haley Hallgren/Alexandra Poletto (USC) def. Dorina Klinger/Ronja Klinger (FIU); 23-25, 21-19, 15-13
4. Lina Bernier/Erika Zembyla (FIU) def. Joy Dennis/Maja Kaiser (USC); 21-10, 18-21, 15-10
5. Katie Friesen/Madison Besterfield (FIU) def. Cammie Dorn/Mollie Ebertin (USC); 22-20, 14-21, 15-10
Order of finish: 1, 4, 2, 5, 3*
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