FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. '" Florida Gulf Coast University (17-2) defeated in-state rival Nova Southeastern University (3-15) on Wednesday night in an NCAA Division II South Region volleyball match at BCC'™s George Mayer Gymnasium. FGCU swept NSU in three games (30-20, 30-22, and 30-26). Junior middle blocker Ericka Fonseca (Belo Horizonte, Brazil) led the Eagles with 12 kills, while sophomore outside hitter Heather Van Olst (Loxahatchee, Fla.) tallied 11 kills. Sophomore middle blocker Tamra Grigsby (West Palm Beach, Fla.) registered 10 kills. Defensively for the Eagles, sophomore hitter Brooke Youngquist (Fort Myers, Fla.) notched 21 digs and 23 service receptions, while sophomore libero Whitney Hendry (Fort Myers, Fla.) recorded 18 digs and 16 service receptions. Freshman Christina Chubb (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) led NSU with nine kills, while fellow freshman Melinda Gorman (Sarasota, Fla.) finished with eight kills and 1 block. Defensively for NSU, senior Dana Buss (Beatrice, Neb.) and junior Megan Johansen (Arlington, Neb.) registered 14 digs, while Karla Ortiz (Jr., San Juan, Puerto Rico) tallied 10 digs. Buss also led NSU with 22 service receptions. Setter Jenny Fitch (Jr., Batavia, Ill.) distributed 19 assists and three kills. The Eagles dominated much of match, jumping out to early leads in games one and two. However NSU battle with Florida Gulf Coast in game three, taking the lead for the first time in the match after NSU strung together a 4-0 run, holding the Eagles 17-15. After finding themselves down by two just a few points later, NSU rallied back to take the lead one last time on a kill by freshman Emily Carle (Missouri City, Texas). NSU could not hold on, however, falling in game three 30-26. FGCU begins a four-game swing through South Carolina in the 2nd Annual Lady Blue House Volleyball Tournament hosted by Presbyterian College on Friday. NSU will remain at home to face Northwood University on Tuesday, October 18 at BCC'™s George Mayer Gymnasium. (Nova Southeastern Sports Information contributed to this report)