MIAMI – The FGCU volleyball team completed its first Division I season with a 23-3 record and Atlantic Sun Championship after falling to Florida International on Tuesday night. FIU improves to 16-7 with the 3-0 (30-24, 30-25, 30-24) sweep.

The Panthers used a 10-2 run to begin the game and appeared to be in control of the first game. FGCU slowly began to get back in the match and eventually took a 21-20 lead. The lead was short-lived as the Panthers followed with a 7-1 run to regain the lead 27-22. From there, the two team exchanged points and FIU took game one 30-24.

In the second game, the Panthers again jumped out to an early lead, a 9-3 cushion early on. The Eagles again battled back and trimmed the lead to one on several occasions, but could never even the score. FIU would maintain control and hang on for a 30-25 win.

The Eagles took the early lead in the third game with a 4-1 advantage to begin the game. The Panthers would go on to even the score at six all for the first of nine ties in the third game. FIU took a 19-18 lead late in the game and an 8-3 run would give the Panthers a 27-21 lead and end any hope of an FGCU rally.

Olga Vergun led the Panthers with 23 kills while hitting .421 in the match while Yarimar Rosa added 17 kills with a .324 hitting percentage.

Brooke Youngquist (Fort Myers, Fla.) led the Eagles with seven kills in her final match. Whitney Hendry (Fort Myers, Fla.) led all players with 17 digs in her final match as an Eagle. The duo were the first two players to sign with the program four years ago and amassed a 103-16 record during their four years with the program.