FGCU senior outside hitter Julija Grubisic Cabo serves during a non-conference match against Florida State at Alico Arena on Aug. 30, 2026. (Photo by Zachary Gibbons / The Eagle Sports Report)

FORT MYERS, Fla. — The Florida Gulf Coast University volleyball team opened its Sunshine State Classic slate with a four-set victory Thursday night at Alico Arena, defeating regional rival Florida Atlantic University 3-1 (25-20, 27-25, 18-25, 25-19) to hand the Owls their first loss of the season.

The victory pushed FGCU to 2-2 on the year while extending its active winning streak against FAU (3-1) to six consecutive matches, bringing the all-time series margin to 9-6 in favor of the Eagles.

In a match defined by late-set runs and defensive exchanges, FGCU compiled a .200 team hitting percentage to FAU’s .149, while commanding a 74-57 advantage in digs and collecting 10 total team blocks. The contest featured 22 ties and eight lead changes across the four frames.

Outside hitter Julija Grubisic Cabo and freshman opposite hitter Maju Hildebrand led the Eagles, each finishing with a match-high 13 kills and securing double-doubles. Grubisic Cabo added 16 digs, while Hildebrand had 14. Setter Dinara Sabitova led the offense with 28 assists and 13 digs for a double-double, while Eliska Vytiskova also added 16 assists.

Middle blocker Amany Kuwa finished with six kills alongside a match-high six blocks, scoring the final two points of the fourth set. Abby Toeniskoetter had nine kills on a .333 hitting efficiency while making four blocks and an ace. Camila Soto came in off the bench, making six kills, and libero Anna Marzella added 12 digs and two service aces.

FAU’s Luye Marquez-Moreno led the Owls with 12 kills and 11 digs, while setter Maya Van Heyst had 25 assists and 10 digs.

After trading early points in the opening frame, FGCU made a four-point service run behind Marzella—with a kill by Shay Heaney, a Heaney-Toeniskoetter block, and a Marzella ace—to build an 18-10 lead. The Owls made a push to pull within 22-19, but Hildebrand answered with a sideout kill forcing set point before an FAU error closed out the 25-20 opening set.

Marzella started another early run in the second set, serving four consecutive points capped by a Toeniskoetter kill to jump ahead 7-1. FAU erased the gap to equalize at 15, but consecutive kills from Grubisic Cabo and Soto re-established a three-point lead. The Owls rallied again to force a series of deadlocks down the stretch at 22, 23, 24, and 25. Grubisic Cabo put down a Vytiskova set for set point at 25-24, and following another FAU answer, Kuwa put down another Vytiskova set to go up 26-25 before an Owls attack error sealed the 27-25 frame and a 2-0 match lead.

The Owls controlled the third set from the opening serve, taking a 4-0 lead. FGCU trimmed the deficit to 12-10 following a Toeniskoetter strike and a Soto-Kuwa tandem block, but FAU pulled away late to claim the set 25-18 and extend the match.

The fourth set remained deadlocked through 11 ties across the opening 28 points. Locked at 14-14, a Toeniskoetter kill returned the serve to Hildebrand, who sparked a decisive 5-0 run that included a Toeniskoetter-Grubisic Cabo block and two Grubisic Cabo kills to pull ahead 19-14. After FAU pulled within 21-19, Kuwa put down a Sabitova set, followed by a Sabitova ace to make it 23-19. Hildebrand and Kuwa then combined for back-to-back blocks on the final two rallies to secure the 25-19 set and close out the match.

FGCU wraps up play in the Sunshine State Classic on Saturday, Sept. 5, hosting Big 12 opponent West Virginia University at Alico Arena. First serve is scheduled for 2 p.m.