FORT MYERS, Fla –
Barbara Koehler delivered a double double with a match high of 16 kills and 10 digs but it was not enough as No.1 seeded Florida Gulf Coast University fell 3-2 in the Atlantic Sun Conference quarterfinal round to No. 8 seeded University of North Florida Thursday in Alico Arena.
Camila Soto added 10 kills for the Eagles, and
Julija Grubisic Cabo chipped in with eight kills and 12 digs. Setter
Eliska Vytiskova orchestrated FGCU's offense while contributing a double-double of 23 assists and 10 digs.
FGCU (19–9, 13–3 ASUN) came out on fire in the first set. They surged to a 17–11 lead behind strong attacking and tight defense, and closed it out 25–20 to take the early advantage.
North Florida (14–16, 7–9 ASUN) didn't back down. In the second set, the Ospreys flipped the momentum and they took a 19–15 lead, and despite a late Eagles rally to 20–18, UNF clinched the set 25–20 to tie the match.
The third set was a see-saw battle. The Eagles pulled ahead to 19–16, and it looked like they might take control but the Ospreys answered with a decisive 9–3 run to wrench away the set, 25–22.
Refusing to go quietly, FGCU came out strong in the fourth. They opened with a 20–11 lead, powered by three kills apiece from Koehler, Grubisic Cabo and
Catharina Scorza. The Eagles held on, closing the set 25–14, and forced a winner-take-all fifth set.
In the decisive set, FGCU again looked in command, building a 9–6 lead early, but North Florida put together a 9–3 run down the stretch and closed the match with a 15–12 win.
North Florida advances to Friday's semifinal, where they will face No. 4 seed Central Arkansas.
