USC Eliminates Florida International in Hard-Fought 3-2 Win

Friday, May 4

Gulf Shores, Ala.

11:00 AM

USC

Florida International vs. USC

Photo by: John McGillen

USC Eliminates Florida International in Hard-Fought 3-2 Win

May 04, 2018 | Women's Beach Volleyball, Features

NCAA Bracket Watch Live USC Falls to FSU in 1st Round

The Women of Troy advance to a second elimination match set for 1 p.m. CT on Saturday, May 5

GULF SHORES, Ala. – The No. 5-seed USC beach volleyball team (26-13) staved off elimination with a nail-biting 3-2 win over eighth-seeded Florida International (23-12) in the Trojans' first elimination match at the 2018 NCAA Beach Volleyball Championship on Friday, May 4.

The Trojans will face either third-seeded Hawai'i (36-3) or No. 2 seed Pepperdine (25-3) at 1 p.m. CT (11 a.m. PT) on Saturday, May 5. The Wahine and the Waves play today at 4 p.m. CT to determine a winner. The loser will move into the elimination bracket to face the Trojans in a match that will be shown live on ESPN2 and on the WatchESPN app.

USC scored the first point of the dual from the top court as junior Abril Bustamante and freshman Tina Graudina completed a 21-13, 21-15 win over Margherita Bianchin and Federica Frasca. It was the Trojan duo's 30th win of the season.

The Panthers quickly equalized the dual with a win at court four when Dorina Klinger and Taija Thomas took down freshman Haley Hallgren and senior Alexandra Poletto in straight sets, 21-18, 21-14. FIU went ahead in the dual, 2-1, on its win at court three. There, Katie Friesen and Anabela Sataric defeated sophomores Joy Dennis and Cammie Dorn, 21-17, 21-13.

The match came down to court two. Senior Terese Cannon and freshman Sammy Slater dropped a close 21-19 first-set decision to Lina Bernier and Erika Zembyla, but fought back to take a 21-17 win in the second. With an 8-7 lead in the third, a net violation call against the Trojans tied the score at eight-all. Undeterred, Cannon and Slater continued to push and took a 10-8 lead and then went in front, 14-12. Cannon tipped the final ball to the corner to complete a 15-12 win and sewed up the dual victory for the Women of Troy. It was the 25th win of the season for Cannon and Slater.

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, Periscope, Instagram, and Snapchat.

[5] No. 5 USC def. [8] No. 10 Florida International, 3-2
2018 NCAA Beach Volleyball Championship • Elimination Match
Gulf Place • Gulf Shores, Ala.
Friday, May 4, 2018
Records: USC (26-13), Florida International (23-12)
1. Abril Bustamante/Tina Graudina (USC) def. Margherita Bianchin/Federica Frasca (FIU); 21-13, 21-15
2. Terese Cannon/Sammy Slater (USC) def. Lina Bernier/Erika Zembyla (FIU); 19-21, 21-17, 15-12
3. Katie Friesen/Anabela Sataric (FIU) def. Joy Dennis/Cammie Dorn (USC); 21-17, 21-13
4. Dorina Klinger/Taija Thomas (FIU) def. Haley Hallgren/Alexandra Poletto (USC); 21-18, 21-14
5. Jenna Belton/Maja Kaiser (USC) def. Estefanie Bethancourt/Natalia Giron (FIU); 21-18, 21-18
Order of finish: 1, 4, 3, 5, 2*