04/20/2026

CLEARWATER, Fla. – Florida Gulf Coast University beach volleyball (19-14) concluded the regular season with a weekend split at the Gulf Front Invitational from April 17-18, highlighted by a 3-2 victory over host South Florida and a 5-0 sweep of Mercer at the Clearwater Beach courts. The Eagles’ weekend was bookended by losses to national powerhouses, falling 5-0 to No. 5 Florida State and No. 13 Louisiana State University.

The Eagles dominated the regular-season finale on Saturday, securing a 5-0 sweep of the Mercer Bears.

The scoring opened on Court 2, where Erin Miller and Nicole De Oliveira defeated Kristi Talocka and Riley Milner in straight sets, 21-7, 21-16. FGCU extended the lead on Court 4 as Elaina Millaway and Kristina Gluc delivered a 21-12, 21-10 victory over Cyleigh Sayler and Giselle Estrada.

The match was officially clinched on Court 5 by Emma Soncrant and Vanessa Moriarty, who secured a 21-10, 21-15 win over Carly Lenhardt and Finley Kenney.

Following the clinch, the Eagles completed the sweep with two more victories. Ava Lilliquist and Alexis Keeter won their battle 21-14, 21-15, while the duo of Andrea Dietz and Sydney Majick capped the afternoon with a 21-15, 21-19 win.

LSU 5, FGCU 0

The Eagles opened Saturday’s slate against No. 13 LSU, falling 5-0 to the Tigers.

LSU took an early lead on Court 2 as Skylar Martin and Tatum Finlason defeated Miller and De Oliveira, 21-17, 21-12. The Tigers extended the advantage on Court 4, where Zayna Meyer and Bella Lagemann outlasted Kaitlyn Beck and Majick in a three-set battle, 17-21, 21-12, 15-11.

The match was clinched on Court 1 by the LSU pair of Julia Sprecher and Kenzey McGatlin, who secured a 21-15, 21-16 victory over Lilliquist and Keeter.

In the remaining matches, LSU’s Molly LaBreche and Aubrey O’Gorman defeated Gluc and Dietz, 21-15, 21-17. The sweep was finalized on Court 5 as Kate Baker and Emily Hellmuth edged out Soncrant and Moriarty in a close first set before winning 24-22, 21-13.

FGCU 3, USF 2

FGCU broke a 1-1 deadlock with back-to-back victories on Courts 1 and 5 to secure a 3-2 win over host South Florida on Friday.

The Eagles took the lead on Court 1, where Lilliquist and Keeter delivered a 21-10, 21-12 performance against Julia Panko and Cornelia Crudu. The match was officially clinched on Court 5 by Soncrant and Moriarty, who secured the team victory with a 21-16, 21-19 win over Tereza Lajkebova and Kate Stewart.

USF claimed the final point on Court 3, with Morgan Anderson and Abigail Lagemann outlasting Dietz and Gluc in a three-set battle, 21-18, 17-21, 15-11.

The Bulls had opened the contest with a 1-0 advantage on Court 2 as Isabella Almeida and Zoey Mitchell defeated Miller and De Oliveira, 21-18, 23-21. FGCU drew even on Court 4 when Beck and Majick defeated Ariana Medchill and Sasha Pasloski, 22-20, 21-15.

FSU 5, FGCU 0

The No. 5 Seminoles secured a 5-0 sweep over the Eagles on Friday, taking control early in the middle of the lineup.

Florida State earned its first point on Court 3 as Kenzie Hultquist and Iane Henke defeated Beck and Gluc, 21-14, 21-12. The lead grew on Court 4 with Kyleene Filimaua and Saofe Duval winning 21-12, 21-16 over Soncrant and Dietz.

The match was clinched on Court 2 by Gella Andrew and Maddie Trusty, who secured a 21-14, 21-19 victory over Miller and De Oliveira.

In the remaining matches, the top FSU pair of Alexis Durish and Audrey Koenig won 21-13, 21-14 over Lilliquist and Keeter. The sweep was finalized on Court 5 as Myriah Massey and Bailey Higgins defeated Moriarty and Majick, 21-14, 21-19.

FGCU travels to Huntsville, Alabama, for the Atlantic Sun Conference Championship from April 22-24 at John Hunt Park.