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VIDEO: Match Highlights

HONOLULU - On a cool morning at Queens Beach in Wakiki, the University of Hawai'i Rainbow Wahine sand volleyball team kicked off the 2013 season with a 3-2 win over Florida International University.

With hundreds of fans in attendance, UH (1-0) won the first two finishes in the opening slate of matches, then captured the win when the No. 3 pairing of indoor stars Jane Croson and Ashley Kastl swept the FIU (1-4) tandem of Emily Podschweit and Tina Toghyani, 21-16, 21-19.

All matches were sweeps, with Ali Longo and Karlee Riggs posting the most dominant win of the morning. At the No. 4 pairing, they took down Camila Rosado and Elly Citron, 21-11, 21-17. The win came after Ku'ulei Zalopany and Olivia Urban won their match at flight five.

After a short break, the second slate of matches began with Croson and Kastl finishing first to put UH up 3-0 and clinch the win.

With the match already decided, flights one and two went to the Golden Panthers to complete the results.

Hawai'i returns to action tomorrow, Saturday when the Rainbow Wahine and FIU will be joined by Hawai'i Pacific and Chaminade for an all-day tournament at Queens Beach beginning at 7:30 a.m. 

Hawai'i 3 Florida International 2
Order of Finish: 5,4,3,1,2 

1. Kate Stepanova/Ksenia Sukhareva (FIU) def. Ginger Long/Katie Spieler (UH) 21-16, 21-13
2. Jessica Gehrke/Maryna Samoday (FIU) def. Natasha Bell/Tai Manu-Olevao (UH) 21-15, 21-18
3. Jane Croson/Ashley Kastl (UH) def. Emily Podschweit/Tina Toghyani (FIU) 21-16, 21-19
4. Alyssa Longo/Karlee Riggs (UH) def. Camila Rosado/Elly Citron (FIU) 21-11, 21-17
5. Ku'ulei Zalopany/Olivia Urban (UH) def. Jessica Mendoza/Laura Duffy (FIU) 21-17, 21-12

-UH-