FGCU’s Julija Grubisic Cabo (3) elevates for a jump serve against Florida State University during a match at Alico Arena. (Photo by Zachary Gibbons/The Eagle Sports Report)

FORT MYERS, Fla. — Powered by a record-tying serving performance from Julija Grubisic Cabo, the Florida Gulf Coast University volleyball team (4-7, 1-0 ASUN) opened ASUN Conference play sweeping Stetson University 3-0 (25-13, 25-16, 25-18) on Saturday night at Alico Arena.

Grubisic Cabo finished with a match-high 14.5 points, anchored by eight service aces that tied for the third-most in a single match in program history—matching Raegan Richardson’s mark against West Georgia on Sept. 29, 2024. As a team, the Eagles controlled the service line with 13 aces against five errors, out-hit the Hatters .342 to .090, and held a 39-25 advantage in kills.

The third set started as a tight battle with FGCU holding 14-13 lead, but a ball-handling error by Stetson (4-8, 0-1 ASUN) led to six consecutive points for FGCU—the last five coming with Grubisic Cabo at the line, highlighted by her eighth ace—to build a 20-13 cushion. Abby Toeniskoetter closed out the match with three of FGCU’s final five points, capped by a Stetson attack error for the 25-18 final and the match sweep.

FGCU set the tone in the first set. Grubisic Cabo opened the match with a service ace, and a five-point run powered by Katie Gielas and Abby Toeniskoetter put the Eagles ahead 5-0. FGCU never trailed, hitting a blistering .522 in the opening frame as Gielas piled up six kills and Amany Kuwa sealed the 25-13 victory.

Stetson answered early in the second set, taking a 4-1 lead before FGCU erased the deficit with a four-point surge sparked by back-to-back aces from Grubisic Cabo. Three straight Stetson attack errors with Anna Marzella at the line pushed the lead to 9-5, and the Eagles were never threatened again. Grubisic Cabo added four mid-set kills, and Gielas and Camila Soto closed out the 25-16 win.

Gielas led the Eagles with a match high nine kills on .389 hitting. Toeniskoetter chipped in eight kills on .636 hitting alongside four total blocks. Camila Soto went 5-for-7 without an error (.714), Kuwa added four kills and four blocks, Dinara Sabitova led the offense with 23 of the team’s 33 assists, and Anna Marzella paced the defense with eight digs.

FGCU continues its five-match homestand on Friday, Oct. 2, hosting Queens University of Charlotte at 6 p.m. at Alico Arena.