The Florida Gulf Coast University beach volleyball team began its 2024 season with a pair of wins on the first day of the Stetson Spring Fling in DeLand, Florida Friday.

The Eagles first delivered a 3-2 victory over the University of Southern Mississippi (1-1) before sweeping Mercer University 5-0 at the Stetson's Cooper Beach Courts. 

"It's always nice to start the season off with some wins," said head coach Chris Sweat. "I thought Mercer and Southern Miss played us tough on the wind and made us earn every point. I saw a lot of things that I loved and a lot we need to improve on, but overall, there were some great wins today."

The No. 2 pair of juniors Kacie Johnson and Emma Soncrant delivered back-to-back wins – going 21-12, 21-14 and clinching the match against the Golden Eagles before going on to win with a 22-20, 21-18 score against the Bears.
 
Kaitlyn Luebbers and Nicole De Oliveira also picked up two wins as they produced a 21-15, 21-17 showing versus Southern Miss and then clinched the match for the Green & Blue with a 21-12, 21-17 victory.
 
The third winning match from earlier this morning came via Jaci Carpenter and Sydney Majick delivering a 21-15, 21-17 win at No. 4.
 
Manaia Rewi/Mia Thompson split their matches on the day. They dropped their match 23-21, 18-21, 15-11 to USM at No. 5 before gaining a new partner. Rewi teamed up with  Carpenter and rallied through three sets to win  17-21, 21-18, 15-11 at No. 4, while Thompson connected with Majick for a 21-19, 21-17 winning score at No. 5.
 
The Eagles (2-0) return to action Saturday for day two of the Stetson Spring Fling, taking on Eckerd College (0-1) 12 noon and then host Stetson (2-0) at 4 p.m.

Southern Miss 2, FGCU 3
1. Ola Chudzik/Sarah Murczek (USM) def. Shelby Beisner/Trinity Rosales (FGCU) 19-21, 21-12, 15-13
2. Kacie Johnson/Emma Soncrant (FGCU) def. Laurel Dennis/Sadie McAda (USM) 21-12, 21-14
3. Kaitlyn Luebbers/Nicole De Oliveira (FGCU) def. Valeria Siakidou Pap/Ashlyn Rough (USM) 21-15, 21-17
4. Jaci Carpenter/Sydney Majick (FGCU) def. Madison Cassidy/Dylan Russell (USM) 22-20, 21-10
5. Jessica Fairly/Morgan Perry (USM) def. Manaia Rewi/Mia Thompson (FGCU) 23-21, 18-21, 15-11
Ext. Cai Caiozzi/Kaitlyn Luebbers (FGCU) def. C. Sanchez Delgado/Wiio Meinheit (USM) 21-12, 21-12

Order of Finish: 4, 5, 3, 1,2
 
FGCU 5,  Mercer 0
1. Shelby Beisner/Trinity Rosales (FGCU) def. Sydney Benson/Kate Hardie (MER) 21-15, 21-14
2. Kacie Johnson/Emma Soncrant (FGCU) def. Nicole O'Mara/Jordan Paddock (MER) 22-20, 21-18
3. Kaitlyn Luebbers/Nicole De Oliveira (FGCU) def. Lexi Polychrones/Reese Hood (MER) 21-12, 21-17
4. Jaci Carpenter/Manaia Rewi (FGCU) def. Jordan Morris/Kathryn Corbett (MER) 17-21, 21-18, 15-11
5. Mia Thompson/Sydney Majick (FGCU) def. Hollis Engel/Liv Diaz (MER) 21-19, 21-17

Order of Finish: 5, 4, 3, 2, 1