FORT MYERS, Fla. – Third-seeded and No. 18 Florida Gulf Coast University beach volleyball advanced to the Atlantic Sun Conference quarterfinal round with a 4-1 win Thursday over sixth-seeded Eastern Kentucky in Huntsville, Alabama.
FGCU will play second-seeded and No. 17 North Florida on Friday at 11:30 a.m. on ESPN+. The winner will advance to the ASUN Semifinals in the winner's bracket, facing either top-seeded Stetson or fourth-seeded North Alabama. The No. 14 Hatters face the Lions at 10 a.m. Friday. The loser's bracket dual will commence at 2:30 p.m., and the winner's bracket semifinal round will be at 4 p.m.
The Eagles gave some validity to EKU's upset hopes for about 20 minutes. The Colonels won both the opening sets on courts four and five, but the Eagles quickly and dominantly responded.
Sydney Majick and Erin Miller forced a third set on five after winning 21-13 in set two. Andrea Dietz and Mia Thompson also pushed their match on four to the third, taking the second set 21-15.
While the Eagles were responding in four and five, FGCU made quick work on courts one, two and three. The Eagles recorded three straight set victories on those courts to effectively clinch the match. Jaci Carpenter and Emma Soncrant clinched the match with a 21-12, 21-14 victory on court three.
FGCU picked up its first point on court one. ASUN First Team honorees Kaitlyn Luebbers and Nicole De Oliveira cruised to a 21-12, 21-14 win, the duo's 16th victory of the season. Keeter, the ASUN Freshman of the Year, and Lilliquist made it 2-0 Eagles with a 21-16, 21-11 performance on court two for their 21st victory.
Majick and Miller overcame their 1-0 set deficit on five to tallying FGCU's four point of the day, prevailing 15-13 in the third and deciding set.
EKU secured its lone point on court four. The Colonels took the three-set battle 17-15.
