Skylar English had a career-high 19 kills and hit .462 for the match as Florida Gulf Coast University won its 16th match in a row with a 3-2 (24-26, 22-25, 25-20, 25-22, 15-11) win over the University of North Florida in Atlantic Sun Conference volleyball action Friday night in Jacksonville, Fla.

"I'm very proud of this group for finding a way to gut out a win when we are having a tough time getting comfortable," said FGCU head coach Matt Botsford. "I loved the way our defense responded as the match got extended, and of course, Skylar was lights out."

The win gives FGCU (23-5, 15-0 ASUN) its best-ever start in ASUN play in program history. The team will try to complete a 16-0 run through regular season play for the first time when it takes on Jacksonville University tomorrow afternoon at 5:00 p.m.

English finished one dig shy of a double-double and also added two aces and three total blocks for a 22.5-point night. Alexandra Zakutney had 14 kills, six digs, and four aces in the winning effort, with Shelby Kent battling for a double-double with 11 kills and 11 digs.

A 7-1 run in the latter stages of the third set enabled FGCU to open up a 22-15 lead, and after the Ospreys fought off four set points, a UNF attack error gave the Eagles the set 25-20. FGCU would build a large lead in the fourth set, holding on to top UNF in the frame 25-22. 

The Eagles would lead the final set from start to finish. A kill by Kent and back-to-back kills by Zakutney helped the Eagles take a 4-0 lead. UNF scored the next two points, but the home side would get no closer the rest of the set. Fittingly, it was English who closed the contest with a kill to give the Eagles the victory.

The win also means that the Eagles will win the ASUN regular season championship outright as Lipscomb no longer has the opportunity to tie FGCU in the standings with just one match left in the regular season.

Lily Tessier guided the FGCU offense with 48 assists, falling one dig shy of a double-double. The setter also added four kills, three total blocks, and two aces. Claire Ertel had 17 digs, with Reese Burry adding a dozen. Read Full Article