Florida Gulf Coast University's beach volleyball team upset No. 20 Tampa University by a 3-2 score and fought well against No. 4 FSU despite falling 5-0 on the final day at the Tampa Invite in Tampa, Florida.

"I couldn't be prouder of how we fought today. After Tampa gave us all we could handle, I was happy to pull it out there." said head coach Chris Sweat. "Then the fight and determination against one of the best teams in the country like FSU, it was amazing to see everyone get after it point after point. We have a very tough schedule coming up in the next couple of weeks and I can't wait to see them rise to the challenge.  

Skylar English and Mia Thompson won the first match for the Eagles against the Trojans, 13-21, 21-18, 15-10 on court No. 5.  Kaitlyn Luebbers and Nicole De Oliveira followed by winning 21-8, 21-11 at No. 3 before Shelby Beisner and Trinity Rosales clinched the match with a 21-12, 21-14 victory at No. 1.

Against the Seminoles, Rosales and Beisner rallied through three sets at No. 1, winning the second before ultimately falling 21-12, 14-21, 30-28.

English and Thompson also pushed through three sets winning the first one before dropping the battle with a close 18-21, 21-14, 16-14 showing.

FGCU will now head to Boca Raton Tuesday to once again take on FSU (11-0) at noon and then battle host Florida Atlantic at 3:30 p.m.

 
FGCU 3, Tampa 2
1. Olivia Margolies / Payton Brunick (UT) def. Kacie Johnson/Emma Soncrant (FGCU) 37-35, 19-21, 15-10
2. Shelby Beisner/Trinity Rosales (FGCU) def. Nevaeh Wolfe / Hailey Wolfe (UT) (UT) 21-12, 21-14
3. Kaitlyn Luebbers/Nicole De Oliveira (FGCU) def. Brooke Green / Angel Williams (UT) 21-8, 21-11
4. Keely Hamilton / Madison Brunick (UT) def. Jaci Carpenter / Sydney Majick (FGCU) 21-17, 23-21
5. Skylar English/Mia Thompson (FGCU) def. Cassidy Ehrie/ Hailey Peterson (UT) 13-21, 21-18, 15-10
 
Order of Finish: 4, 5, 3, 2, 1


FGCU 0, FSU 5
1. Madelyne Anderson / Skyler Germann (FSU) def. Shelby Beisner /Trinity Rosales (FGCU) 21-12, 14-21, 30-28
2. Alli Hansen / Raelyn White (FSU) def. Kacie Johnson /Emma Soncrant (FGCU) 21-15, 23-21
3. Alexis Durish / Anna Long (FSU) def. Kaitlyn Luebbers / Nicole De Oliveira (FGCU) 21-8, 21-14
4. Caitlin Moon / and Kaeli Crews (FSU def. Lilly Hafner /Sydney Majick (FGCU) 22-20, 21-17
5. McKenna Flaherty / Madison Binkley (FSU) def. Skylar English/Mia Thompson (FGCU) 18-21, 21-14, 16-14
 
Order of Finish: 1, 3, 4, 5, 2