Alexandra Zakutney had a team-high 11 kills as Florida Gulf Coast University fell 3-0 (25-19, 26-24, 25-17) to Jacksonville University in Jacksonville, Fla., to bring the volleyball regular season for 2023 to a close.
"That was an outstanding performance by JU tonight," said FGCU head coach
Matt Botsford. "I know our players were working extremely hard, but we could not match the execution level that we were seeing across from us. Hopefully we can use this experience as a positive as we prepare for our ultimate goal, which is another trip to the NCAAs."
FGCU (23-6, 15-1 ASUN) set a program record for best start in ASUN play, but fell a match short of completing an undefeated regular season in league play. Still, the team won the ASUN regular season title and will be the top seed in the ASUN Championship beginning this Thursday at Alico Arena in Fort Myers, Fla.
The Eagles nearly tied the best-of-five in set two. FGCU broke a 22-22 tie with a kill by
Shelby Kent and a block by
Skylar English and
Ella Chapman. However, the Dolphins came back to take the final four points to win the set.
Jacksonville (9-19, 6-10 ASUN) sees its season come to a close one win short of qualifying for the ASUN Championship.
The Eagles will face No. 8-seeded Bellarmine in the quarterfinals of the ASUN Championship. Opening serve is set for 7:00 p.m. in Alico Arena Thursday night.
