FORT MYERS, Fla. – Senior Chelsea Lyles (Colorado Springs, Col./Harrison HS/Western Nebraska CC) recorded a team-high eight kills as the FGCU volleyball squad was swept by FIU 3-0 (19-25, 12-25, 23-25) on Tuesday night.
With the loss the Eagles fall to 5-19 overall, while the Panthers improve to 17-10 on the season.
Lyles finished the match with eight kills, four block assists and a .389 hitting percentage. Senior Emma Racila (Fort Myers, Fla./Bishop Verot/College of Charleston) recorded five kills and a .222 attack percentage. Junior Holly Youngquist (Estero, Fla./Evangelical Christian) led the team with seven digs, while freshman setter Camil Dominguez (Santo Domingo, D.R./Santa Teresita) recorded 20 assists.
In the opening game, FIU jumped out to a 17-9 lead. After the teams exchanged points to make the score 19-11, the Blue and Green called for a timeout. The Panthers controlled the rest of the set and went on to pick up the 25-19 victory. FIU hit .405 in the set, while limiting the Eagles to a .176 attack percentage.
In the second set, FIU continued to control play as they went on to win the second game, 25-12, and take a 2-0 lead in the match. The Panthers hit .538, while limiting the Eagles to just a -.125 hitting percentage.
FGCU shot out to a 14-11 lead in game three after Lyles blasted a kill. With the Eagles leading 15-14, the Blue and Green used back-to-back kills from Dominguez and Racila to give themselves some breathing room (17-14). FIU employed a 5-2 run to even the game at 19-19. Renele Forde picked up a kill to give FIU a 23-22 lead and forced FGCU head coach Dave Nichols to burn a timeout. Racila's kill after the timeout tied the set for the ninth time at 23-23. An Eagle service error and a kill by FIU's Marija Prsa gave the Panthers the game, 25-23, and the match3-0).
FGCU will close out the non-conference portion of its schedule on Thursday, Nov. 11, when they meet the Bulls of USF in Tampa, Fla. First serve is set for 7 p.m. The Eagles will return home for their final match of the 2010 season when the welcome Stetson into 'The Nest' on Saturday, Nov. 13 for 'Senior Day'.
