BOCA RATON, Fla. --- Kayla Whetstone became the fifth player in program history to reach 50 career victories on Friday as the FGCU beach volleyball team (6-2) split a pair of matches to open the FAU Beach Bash in Paradise.
 
"I am very happy with the way we started out all our sets," FGCU head coach Chris Sweat said. "You have to be as consistent as possible to compete with this level of competition, and I liked how we fought in every game. All five of our teams were put in uncomfortable situations in our last match, and I am glad that we were able to pull out a win against a very steady UAB squad."
 
After dropping the opener against No. 1 Florida State 5-0, the Eagles edged UAB 3-2 in the finale, improving to 3-0 all-time against the Blazers. Meanwhile, not only was it the first time FGCU faced the Seminoles, but it was the first time in program history they've faced the nation's No. 1 ranked team. Both losses for the Green and Blue this year have been to ranked teams.
 
Whetstone (Arlington, Texas/Arlington Lamar HS), along with rookie partner Kacie Johnson, took down UAB 21-17, 21-14 in the finale. The duo improved to 6-2 on the season.
 

1.	Karissa Rhoades	2016-19	61
2.	Katie Puisis	2016-19	57
3.	Amanda Carroll	2016-19	50
	Giovanna Borgiotti	2017-present	50
	Kayla Whetstone	2018-present	50

 
In the finale, the duo of Lexie Hamilton and Maddison Parmelly won a three-set battle at No. 3 while Emma Hansen and Madie Lichty also won in three at No. 4.
 
The Green and Blue will be back in action to close out the weekend on Saturday against No. 14 Stetson (3 p.m.) and No. 12 Florida Atlantic (5 p.m.)
 
No. 1 Florida State 5, FGCU 0
1. Alaina Chacon/Caitlin Godwin def. Kirstine Garder/Giovanna Borgiotti 21-17, 21-16
2. Keara Rutz/Torrey Van Winden def. Kayla Whetstone/Kacie Johnson 21-16, 21-14
3. Sara Putt/Maddie Anderson def. Lexie Hamilton/Maddison Parmelly 21-15, 13-21, 15-10
4. Madison Fitzpatrick/Payton Caffrey def. Emma Hansen/Madie Lichty 24-22, 21-11
5. Kate Privett/Jenna Johnson def. Trinity Rosales/Jenna Banz 21-19, 21-15
 
FGCU 3, UAB 2
1. Mikayla Law-Heese/Rachel Tam (UAB) def. Kirstine Garder/Giovanna Borgiotti 17-21, 21-13, 15-9
2. Kayla Whetstone/Kacie Johnson (FGCU) def. Emma Andraka/Dylynn Otte 21-17, 21-14
3. Lexie Hamilton/Maddison Parmelly (FGCU) def. Jenna Gathright/Annie Pringle 21-19, 15-21, 15-11
4. Emma Hansen/Madie Lichty (FGCU) def. Adriana Pereira/Arden Copping 21-19, 15-21, 15-12
5. Ella Alexander/Jessica Twilley (UAB) def. Trinity Rosales/Jenna Banz 21-18, 21-18

For complete coverage of the beach volleyball program, follow the Eagles on Twitter and Instagram at @FGCU_BeachVB, on Facebook at /fgcubeachvb and online at FGCUathletics.com. You can also sign up to have news on FGCU beach volleyball or other programs delivered directly to your inbox by visiting www.fgcuathletics.com/email.
 
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COACH SWEAT
Chris Sweat is in his second season as head coach of the FGCU beach volleyball program after spending the prior five seasons as an assistant coach. A member of VolleyballMag.com's Under 40 Coaching Hotshots list in January 2020, he led the Eagles to a 4-0 start in 2020 prior to the Covid-19 shutdown and has compiled a 10-2 record to open his head coaching tenure.
 
#FEEDFGCU
FGCU Athletics sponsors events in November and April to benefit the FGCU Campus Food Pantry (www.fgcu.edu/foodpantry) and the Harry Chapin Food Bank (www.harrychapinfoodbank.org), FGCU Athletics' charities of choice. For more information, including how to make a contribution, please visit www.fgcu.edu/foodpantry and utilize the hashtag #FeedFGCU to help raise awareness.
 
ABOUT FGCU
FGCU teams have combined to win an incredible 85 conference regular season and tournament titles in just 13+ seasons at the Division I level. Additionally, in just nine seasons of D-I postseason eligibility, the Eagles have had a combined 39 teams or individuals compete in NCAA championships. Seven FGCU programs have earned a top-25 national ranking in their respective sport – including women's basketball (No. 24, 2019-20) and both men's soccer (2018, 2019) and women's soccer (2018) as three of the most recent. In 2016-17, the Green and Blue posted a department-best sixth-place finish in the DI-AAA Learfield Directors' Cup and top-100 showing nationally, ahead of several Power-5 and FBS institutions. In 2018-19, the Eagles had an ASUN and state of Florida best seven teams earn the NCAA's Public Recognition Award for their Academic Progress Rate in their sport. FGCU also collectively earned a record 3.46 GPA in the classroom in the spring 2020 semester and has outperformed the general University undergraduate population for 22 consecutive semesters. The 2019 Fall and 2020 Spring semesters each saw another milestone reached as all 15 programs achieved a 3.0-or-higher team GPA. The Eagles also served an all-time high 7,200 volunteer hours in 2017 – being recognized as one of two runners-up for the inaugural NACDA Community Service Award presented by the Fiesta Bowl.
 
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