LARAMIE, Wyo. - The Florida Gulf Coast University volleyball team split a pair of matches Friday at the University of Wyoming's Cowgirl Classic with a 3-0 (25-23, 25-20, 25-22) win over George Washington and a 3-0 (25-21, 25-17, 25-22) loss to UMKC at the Wyoming Sports Complex. The Green and Blue are now 3-2 overall on the young season.
In the first game of the day, the team's played to a 22-22 tie, before the Eagles used a 3-1 run, highlighted by a pair of kills from sophomore Olivia Mesner (Boca Raton, Fla./Spanish River HS), to take the set 25-23.
Trailing 12-10 in the second set, FGCU used an 8-1 run, capped by a kill from senior Brooke Kohler (Jupiter, Fla./Jupiter HS/Clemson), to grab an 18-13 advantage. Leading 19-16, the Eagles went on to score six of the next 10 points in the game to pick up a 25-20 win. Kohler, Mesner, and senior Brittany Muse (Arcadia, Fla./DeSoto County HS) each picked up kills to help FGCU close out the set.
Leading 14-13 in game three after a kill from GW's Lauren Whyte, the Green and Blue employed a 9-4 run, capped by a George Washington attack error, to take a comfortable 23-17 lead. The Colonials fought back with a 4-0 run to cut the FGCU advantage to 23-21, but the Eagles were able to hold off GW to win the third set 25-22 and take the match 3-0.
Mesner and junior Christine Pinder (Gainesville, Fla./Buchholz HS/Houston/Central Florida CC) led the team with 10 kills each, while Muse and Kohler chipped in with seven kills apiece. Junior Karina Mambuca (Naples, Fla./Gulf Coast HS/Southeastern) registered six kills and a pair of blocks, while sophomore Gigi Meyer (Gainesville, Fla./Buchholz HS) recorded a team-high 20 assists and classmate Whitney Masters (Muncie, Ind./Wapahani HS) had team-high 11 digs.
In their second match on day one of the tournament, the Eagles fell 3-0 (25-21, 25-17, 25-22) to the 'Roos of UMKC.
Pinder led the Eagles with nine kills, eight digs and three blocks on the night, as the Green and Blue were limited to a .030 hitting percentage in the loss.
Junior Kaitlin Holm (Fort Myers, Fla./Fort Myers HS/Marshall) finished with six kills and a .312 hitting percentage, while Mambuca totaled four blocks.
In the first set, the Eagles found themselves tied late in the set at 18-18 before allowing the 'Roos to use a 7-3 run to close out the set and take a 1-0 lead in the match.
In set two, the two squads were again tied midway through the set, but a 6-1 run by UMKC put the 'Roos in front 19-14. The Green and Blue would pull to within four points at 20-16, but five of the final six points went UMKC's way to push their lead in the match to 2-0 with a 25-17 win.
The Kangaroos went on to close out the match with a 25-22 win in the third set that featured 13 ties and seven lead changes, ending the set on a 7-2 run after trailing late 20-18.
FGCU will play their final two matches at the Wyoming Cowgirl Classic on Saturday when they take on Bethune-Cookman at 11 a.m. and tournament host Wyoming at 3:30 p.m.
FGCU's match vs. Wyoming will be broadcast live on the web for a minimal fee through WYO Vision and live stats will be available for both matches on WyomingAthletics.com
