Florida Gulf Coast University's beach volleyball showed good performances against two nationally ranked teams Saturday on the first day of the FAU Beach Burrow Bash in Boca Raton, Florida.

The Eagles (13-17) fell 4-1 to host FAU (14-13) and narrowly dropped a 3-2 decision to Atlantic Sun Conference foe No. 16 Stetson University (17-8).

Kacie Johnson won her 80^th career match as she teamed up with Nicole De Oliveira on court No. 2 against Stetson. She set a new FGCU program record of 70 wins back on March 1.

"It was great to see some new pairs get some wins," said head coach Chris Sweat. "We knew the   competition today would be tough, and it will be just as tough tomorrow, but I know the girls are ready     for the challenge."

"We know how close we are to putting it all together, and I'm looking forward to the challenge. It was also nice to see Kacie get her 80th career win, something that's never been accomplished at FGCU.  She, Shelby, and Trinity have been working for four years here and I couldn't be more proud of where they are taking this team."

Kaitlyn Luebbers and Nicole De Oliveira won the only match for the Eagles, against the Owls winning on court No. 3 with a 21-17, 25-23 score.

In the evening the Hatters took a 1-0 lead after Jaci Carpenter and Mia Thompson dropped their match 24-22, 21-18 on court No. 4.

SU pushed the lead to  2-0 when Sydney Majick and Skylar English fell on court No. 5 after three sets 19-21, 21-17, 19-17.

Emma Soncrant and Kaitlyn Luebbers got FGCU on the scoreboard after rallying through three sets and prevailing 21-16, 19-21, 16-14 on court No. 3.

Nicole De Oliveira and Kacie Johnson then evened the match 2-2 pushing through three sets to earn a 22-20, 15-21, 21-19 victory.

With all the attention on court No. 1, the Hatters sealed the close victory as Shelby Beisner and Trinity Rosales fell 21-12, 21-12.

The Eagles will take on South Carolina at 7:30 a.m. and Tulane University at 1:30 p.m. Sunday.


FGCU 1, No. 18 FAU 4
1. Ashleigh Adams and Julie Honzovicova (FAU) def. Shelby Beisner and Trinity Rosales (FGCU) 22-24, 21-15, 17-15
2. Sloane Woolwine and Marketa Svozilova (FAU) def. Emma Soncrant and Kacie Johnson (FGCU) 16-21, 21-19, 15-10
3. Kaitlyn Luebbers and Nicole De Oliveira (FGCU) def. Brooklyn Goedhart and Logan Mignerey (FAU) 21-17, 25-23
4. Mikayla Law-Heese and Courtney Moon (FAU) def. Jaci Carpenter and Mia Thompson (FGCU) 23-25. 21-12, 15-13
5. Kate McLaughlin and Kendall Mignerey (FAU) def. Sydney Majick and Skylar English (FGCU) 21-23, 22-20, 15-11
6. Alivia Orvieto and Olivia Strandberg (FAU) def. Lilly Hafner and Cai Caiozzi (FGCU) 21-13, 21-7
Order of finish:6, 3, 1, 5, 4, 2,
 
FGCU 2, No. 16 SU 3
 1. Shae Henson and Tori Clement (SU) def. Shelby Beisner and Trinity Rosales (FGCU) 21-12, 21-12
2. Nicole De Oliveira and Kacie Johnson (FGCU) def. Audrey Gauthier and Carolina Ferraris (SU) 22-20, 15-21, 21-19
3. Emma Soncrant and Kaitlyn Luebbers (FGCU) def. Lauren Della and Vanessa Hurnikova (SU) 21-16, 19-21, 16-14
4. Alanna Shields and Alina Urzua (SU) def. Jacqueline Carpenter and Mia Thompson (FGCU) 24-22, 21-18
5. Klea Sirois and Kiki Drozd (SU) def. Sydney Majick and Skylar English (FGCU) 19-21, 21-17, 19-17
6. Julia Czurylo and Hanna Gubik (SU) vs. Lilly Hafner and Cai Caiozzi (FGCU) match was unfinished 21-13
 
Order of finish: 4, 5, 3, 2, 1