BOCA RATON, Fla. --- The FGCU beach volleyball team (7-3) knocked off No. 14 Stetson on Saturday afternoon to highlight a two-match split to conclude the final day of the FAU Beach Bash in Paradise.
 
For the Eagles, it represented the highest-ranked team they've ever defeated, topping a win over No. 15 FAU on March 10, 2018. It also snapped a 20-match losing streak to the Hatters dating back to 2012.
 
In the day's finale, the Eagles dropped a 4-1 match to No. 12 FAU, but two of the four losses went to three sets. Jenna Banz and Trinity Rosales produced the lone win of the match at the No. 5 pair.
 
"It was a great weekend of volleyball and seeing progress from every team is exactly what we are looking for right now," FGCU head coach Chris Sweat said. "We are putting ourselves in great position to win matches, and as the season progresses, we hope to continue to grow and compete. I'm really proud of how Kayla and Kacie stepped up for us in a big moment to get our first win on the day against a very talented Stetson team."
 
Kayla Whetstone and Kacie Johnson provided the match-clinching victory in the win over Stetson, knocking off the Hatters in straight sets at the No. 2 pair. Maddison Parmelly and Lexie Hamilton along with Emma Hansen and Madie Lichty also captured straight-set victories at the No. 3 and No. 4 pairs, respectively.
 
Banz (Cambridge, Ontario, Canada/St. Benedict Catholic Secondary/Hawaii) and Rosales (Wilmington, N.C./Eugene Ashley HS) went the distance at No. 5 before falling 15-9.
 
With her victory, Whetstone (Arlington, Texas/Arlington Lamar HS) not only moved into sole possession of third place for most career victories in program history, but she notched her fifth career win over a ranked pair, which moves her one shy of Madi Wilcox for the most in program history. Meanwhile, Johnson (Frisco, Texas/Lebanon Trail HS) is already one of 12 players in FGCU annals with multiple ranked wins.
 

1.	Karissa Rhoades	2016-19	61
2.	Katie Puisis	2016-19	57
3	Kayla Whetstone	2018-present	51
4.	Amanda Carroll	2016-19	50
	Giovanna Borgiotti	2017-present	50

 
The Green and Blue will be back in action on Wednesday in DeLand with a doubleheader against Stetson beginning at 12 p.m.
 
FGCU 3, No. 14 Stetson 2
1. Carly Perales/Ana Costa (STET) def. Giovanna Borgiotti/Kirstine Garder 22-20, 21-13
2. Kayla Whetstone/Kacie Johnson (FGCU) def. Kamryn Johnson/Shae Henson 21-17, 21-19
3. Maddison Parmelly/Lexie Hamilton (FGCU) def. Yasmin Kuck/Gabriella Bramante 21-18, 21-18
4. Emma Hansen/Madie Lichty (FGCU) def. Alicia Harrington/Lauren Della 21-17, 21-15
5. Oda Stray Homme/Madison Bobes (STET) def. Jenna Banz/Trinity Rosales 21-17, 20-22, 15-9
 
No. 12 FAU 4, FGCU 1
1. Erica Brok/Mackenzie Morris (FAU) def. Giovanna Borgiotti/Kirstine Garder 21-16, 21-12
2. Kenley Adams/Ellie Austin (FAU) def. Kayla Whetstone/Kacie Johnson 21-17, 21-18
3. Jillienne Cangelosi/Kaila Dorish (FAU) def. Maddison Parmelly/Lexie Hamilton 19-21, 21-15, 15-12
4. Savannah Pesante/Lily Richman (FAU) def. Emma Hansen/Madie Lichty 19-21, 21-19, 15-12
5. Jenna Banz/Trinity Rosales (FGCU) def. Logan Mignerey/Alivia Orvieto 21-15, 14-21, 16-14

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 11-3 record to open his head coaching tenure.
 
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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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