03/20/2026

FORT MYERS, Fla. – Florida Gulf Coast University beach volleyball opened the Urban Buzz Eagle Invitational in dominant fashion Friday at the FGCU Beach Volleyball Courts, securing victories over Florida International University and Sam Houston State. The Eagles (11-8) began the day with a 4-1 win over the Panthers before sweeping the Bearkats 5-0.

In the sweep of the Bearkats, FGCU displayed total control on home sand by winning all five matches in straight sets. The dual was officially clinched on Court 2, where Erin Miller and Nicole De Oliveira earned a 21-12, 21-15 victory over Lexi Higgins and Kate Smith. Their win provided the decisive third point for the Eagles.

“I felt really good to play in front of our amazing fans at FGCU,” head coach Chris Sweat told FGCU Athletics. “Having the crowd be so energetic was awesome to see, and I know the players were all feeding off of it. It was great to get a win against a very talented FIU team and we’re looking forward to some more great matches tomorrow.”

Vanessa Moriarty and Kristina Gluc provided the early spark in the second dual of the day, finishing first on Court 4 with a dominant 21-14, 21-5 performance over Ella Folse and Freedom Stephensen. Emma Soncrant and Elaina Millaway quickly followed with a 21-13, 21-13 win on Court 5 to put the Eagles up 2-0.

Andrea Deitz and Sydney Majick added to the lead on Court 3, posting the most lopsided set of the day in a 21-6, 21-12 win over Avery Fowler and Payton Rink.The sweep was completed on the top flight as Ava Lilliquist and Alexis Keeter battled to a 21-19, 21-16 win over the Bearkats’ lead pair Tatum Lockhardt and Michaela Panekova.

FGCU 4, FIU 1

Earlier in the day, the Eagles secured a statement 4-1 win over FIU to open the tournament. The duo of Miller and De Oliveira provided the clinching point, taking down the Panthers’ Court 2 pair of Hanna Gubik and Nicole Robison in straight sets, 21-17, 21-10.

Soncrant and Moriarty finished first on Court 5 with a 21-19, 21-11 win over Madalyn Wade and Hailey Prodan, while Kaitlyn Beck and Gluc followed suit on Court 4 with a 21-15, 21-14 victory over Nikelle Lander and Lauren Coady to put the Eagles up 2-0 early. The victory marked the 75th career win for Beck.

Deitz and Majick added a fourth point for the Eagles in a three-set thriller on Court 3, battling back for a 21-16, 17-21, 15-11 win over Isabella Pereira and Kendra Brown.

FIU managed to take its lone point of the dual on Court 1 as Katarina Drozd and Brianna Luoma edged out Ava Lilliquist and Alexis Keeter in a narrow third-set tiebreaker, 21-19, 14-21, 15-11.

The Eagles close their home tournament on Saturday with a Senior Day match against Palm Beach State at 10 a.m., with the Senior Day Ceremony at 9:45 a.m., followed by a match against Jacksonville at 2 p.m.