04/05/2026

TUCSON, Ariz. — The Florida Gulf Coast University beach volleyball team (15-10) split the final day of the Wildcat Spring Challenge, hosted by the University of Arizona, on Saturday. The Eagles fell to No. 18 South Carolina 4-1 before bouncing back with a 3-2 victory over Colorado Mesa to finish the weekend 2-2 overall.

In the closing match against the Mavericks, FGCU’s top duo of Erin Miller and Nicole De Oliveira won 21-11, 21-18 over Eva Stewart and Ewelina Gacek. Ava Lilliquist and Alexis Keeter beat Gracyn Spresser and Ellie Ask, 21-19, 21-13. Emma Soncrant and Vanessa Moriarty clinched the match for the Eagles with a 22-20, 21-17 victory over Jessica Passi and Stormi Tadlock.

Colorado Mesa avoided a shutout with Addie Ritterbush and Mikala Henderson defeating Andrea Dietz and Sydney Majick in a three-set battle, 13-21, 21-15, 15-8. The Mavericks followed with another three-set victory as Regan Rothley and Lauren Rohlwing beat Kaitlyn Beck and Elaina Millaway, 21-13, 17-21, 15-9.

“Coming into the weekend, we knew we had to play our best if we wanted to compete with the best,” FGCU head coach Chris Sweat told FGCU Athletics. “I was disappointed with our lack of physicality against a very physical South Carolina team. We turned some things around against a very scrappy and well-managed Colorado Mesa team, so I was happy to get a solid win there. We’re looking forward to a tough week of practice and some conference matches next weekend.”

South Carolina 4, FGCU 1

In the first match of the day, the Gamecocks opened with a win on No. 3 Court as Evie Ziffer and Lauren Lawson won 21-19, 21-17 over Dietz and Majick. Juju Quintero and Julia Waugh followed with a straight-sets 21-18, 21-18 victory over Soncrant and Moriarty.

The match was clinched on the top court with Jolie Cranford and Peyton Yamagata beating Lilliquist and Keeter, 21-18, 21-19. South Carolina’s final point came on No. 4 Court with Annalyse Askew and Grace Travis getting a straight-sets win over Beck and Kristina Gluc, 21-18, 21-18.

The Eagles avoided a shutout with Miller and De Oliveira winning a three-set battle 21-19, 16-21, 15-12 over Brooke Balue and Rachel Hartmann.

FGCU travels to Boca Raton for the Capri Classic hosted by Florida Atlantic from April 10-11. The Eagles will play Jacksonville at 10 a.m. and Stephen F Austin at 2 p.m. on Friday.