AUSTIN, TEXAS – The Florida Gulf Coast University volleyball team battled No. 7 Texas at Gregory Gymnasium Friday, stumbling 3-0.

"That's just far too many errors versus anyone, let alone a team the caliber of Texas," head coach Matt Botsford said. "Our attackers have to learn to manage the game better than that, but I'm confident they will. I liked our effort from the service line, but we did not connect that to any real defensive momentum. We were disorganized positionally and gave away too many manageable balls that I believe we should expect to dig and enter into transition."

The Eagles (4-3) struggled to play a clean match against the defending national champions as Texas (3-2) forced FGCU into 23 attack errors, allowing just a .023 hitting percentage.

The Longhorns' height up at the net also caused problems for the Eagles. Texas outpaced FGCU in blocks 14.0-3.0.

FGCU battled for every point. In the opening set, the Eagles used a 4-0 spurt to draw within one, 12-13. The Longhorns returned the favor with a 4-0 run of their own en route to securing set one 25-19.

In the second set, the Green & Blue managed to tie the match at 10 courtesy of a Lily Tessier ace just grazing the line. Despite recording three connective kills late, FGCU would ultimately drop the second 25-18.

Texas put the Eagles away in the third, 25-13, eliminating FGCU's upset hopes. 

Shelby Kent led all Eagles in kills with seven. Tessier recorded 12 assists directing the FGCU offense, while Alexandra Zakutney posted a team-leading eight digs.

FGCU looks to rebound Saturday at Rice. The match will be streamed on ESPN+. First serve is set for 5 p.m. (ET).