04/22/2026

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — Florida Gulf Coast University beach volleyball team (19-14) opened the Atlantic Sun Conference Championship Wednesday, sweeping Eastern Kentucky (17-12) 5-0 in the tournament’s first round at John Hunt Park.

The Eagles controlled the sand from the start, securing straight-set victories on four of the five courts to advance in the bracket.

Vanessa Moriarty and Emma Soncrant provided the early spark on Court 5, finishing first with a 21-19, 21-9 win over EKU’s Zsa Zsa Ferguson and Sutton Sales. Shortly after, Nicole De Oliveira and Erin Miller extended the lead on Court 2 by defeating Gabriella Armitage and Elpida Pitsigkoni 21-14, 21-13.

The match-clinching point came from the top court, where Alexis Keeter and Ava Lilliquist took down Riley Cutler and Molly Shomock 21-16, 21-12.

Following the clinch, Kaitlyn Beck and Kristina Gluc added a fourth point on Court 4 with a 21-17, 21-11 victory over Sami Deidesheimer and Arilyn Lee. The most contested battle of the day took place on Court 3, where Andrea Dietz and Sydney Majick outlasted EKU’s Amanda Floystad and Carlyn McAllister in three sets 21-11, 19-21, 15-9 to complete the sweep.

“It’s great to get that first one under your belt,” FGCU head coach Chris Sweat told FGCU Athletics. “EKU is well coached and a very good ball control team that put us in some tough spots, so it was great to win on all courts. We’re looking forward to the rest of the tournament.”

The sweep keeps the Eagles in the winner’s bracket for a high-stakes quarterfinal matchup against No. 2 seed and nationally-ranked No. 17 North Florida on Thursday at 11 a.m. A victory would catapult FGCU directly into Friday’s semifinals, while a loss would drop them into the elimination bracket for a “must-win” match against the winner of North Alabama and Austin Peay at 5 p.m.