FORT MYERS, Fla. - Florida Gulf Coast University volleyball opens the 2026 season this weekend, hosting the FGCU Invitational at Alico Arena from Friday, Aug. 28, through Sunday, Aug. 30. Three quality nonconference opponents are making the trip to Fort Myers: VCU, No. 24 BYU and RV Florida State.

The Eagles open play Friday at 6 p.m. against VCU. They take on No. 24 BYU Saturday at 5 p.m. and close out the weekend Sunday at 1 p.m. against RV Florida State. It's an immediate measuring stick for second-year head coach Thais Baziquetto-Allen and a roster that enters the season with sky-high expectations. The four-team field also features two matchups not involving FGCU: Florida State faces BYU on Friday at 2 p.m. and VCU on Saturday at 1 p.m.

FGCU comes off a 19-9 campaign in 2025 that included a 13-3 mark in the ASUN and a regular season conference championship, Baziquetto-Allen's first at the helm. On Wednesday, the league's coaches rewarded that success by tabbing the Eagles the preseason favorites in the 2026 ASUN Volleyball Preseason Coaches Poll. Senior outside hitter Julija Grubisic Cabo also earned a spot on the Preseason All-ASUN Team.

Leading FGCU's roster into the weekend are its three senior captains: Grubisic Cabo, libero Anna Marzella and setter Eliska Vytiskova. Grubisic Cabo was an All-ASUN First Team and CSC Academic All-District selection a year ago. She piled up 359 kills, 292 digs and 26 aces across 28 matches, highlighted by a 21-kill, .486-hitting effort against North Florida. Vytiskova ran the offense to the tune of 545 assists (4.74 per set). Marzella anchored the back row with 195 digs and 69 assists.

Senior middle blocker Abby Toeniskoetter also headlines the returning group. She hit .364 with 172 kills a year ago, including a career-high 21 kills and 25 points at Stetson on Nov. 12. She's joined by sophomore outside hitter Katie Gielas, junior outside hitter Camila Soto and junior opposite Catharina Scorza. Sophomore middle blocker Erica Muhizi, an ASUN All-Freshman Team honoree who posted 127 kills on a .320 clip with 108 total blocks last season, will miss the tournament. She's been called up to the Swedish National Team roster in place of an injured player and will represent Sweden at the European Volleyball Championship.

FGCU's newcomer class brings its own pedigree into the weekend. Freshman outside hitter Ava Theiller arrives as a First Team All-Conference and All-State selection out of Bayard Rustin High School, where she piled up 529 career kills. Freshman opposite Maju Hildebrand is a Brazilian national team member and two-time Best Opposite of All Brazilian Clubs. Freshman middle blocker Amany Kuwa rounds out the incoming class of first-years. Sophomore outside hitter Shay Heaney (Grand Canyon) and sophomore libero Devynn Schulze (Illinois State) join as transfers, along with senior setter Dinara Sabitova, a European U19 champion with the Russian National Team who transfers in from Florida SouthWestern.

FGCU enters the weekend ranked 21st nationally in strength of schedule for the nonconference portion of its slate, according to SuperVolley.org. This weekend's field headlines that test.

VCU (Friday, Aug. 28, 6 p.m.)
VCU enters its fourth season under head coach Tim Doyle off a 16-13 overall record and a 12-6 mark in the Atlantic 10 in 2025. The Rams return a solid nucleus in middle blocker Letizia Galli (198 kills, .289 hitting percentage, 124 total blocks), libero Meghan Touhey, outside hitters Lannah Price and Julieta Portillo, libero Kayla Foley, opposite/outside hitter Lara Del Core (121 kills, .235 hitting percentage), middle blocker Nina Boledovicova (127 kills, 61 total blocks), middle blocker Akire Jones and setter Cansin Sendir (485 assists).

Friday's match will be the fourth all-time meeting between the two programs, with FGCU holding a 2-1 edge in the series. The teams haven't met since the Sunshine Invitational on Sept. 9, 2022, when the Eagles came away with a 3-1 win.

No. 24 BYU (Saturday, Aug. 29, 5 p.m.)
BYU enters the weekend under first-year head coach Rob Neilson after a 22-9 season in 2025 that included a 10-8 mark in Big 12 play. The Cougars bring back a deep and experienced group, headlined by outside hitter Claire Little Chambers (432 kills, .253 hitting percentage, 499 points), outside hitter Sophia Callahan (226 kills, .286 hitting percentage) and middle blocker Brielle Kemavor, who posted a team-best .372 hitting percentage to go with 253 kills and a team-leading 138 total blocks. Setter Alex Bower (1,265 assists, 10.63 per set) and libero Emma Barbero (215 digs) also return, along with outside hitter Elli Mortensen, libero Kaylee Tingey, libero Lulu Po'uha and outside hitter Addie Benson.

This weekend marks the first-ever meeting between FGCU and BYU.

RV Florida State (Sunday, Aug. 30, 1 p.m.)
Florida State, receiving votes in the national polls, enters its first season under head coach Lindsay Allman off a 16-13 overall record and a 10-10 mark in ACC play in 2025. The Seminoles' returning group includes outside hitter Kyleene Filimaua, who led the team with 443 kills and a .203 hitting percentage a year ago, along with middle blocker Nenu Kpea (195 kills, 117 total blocks) and middle blocker Delaney Ewing (143 kills, .312 hitting percentage, 121 total blocks). Outside hitters Payton Whalen and Victoria David, opposite Lexie Mason, middle blocker Kelsey Perry, libero Ava Lambert, libero Caylan Russ, setter Ryan Murphy and opposites Johanna Sova and Nicole Mauser round out the returning core for the Seminoles, who played a brutal ACC slate that included Miami, Louisville, Notre Dame and regular-season champion Clemson.

FGCU and Florida State will meet for just the third time, with the Seminoles holding a 2-0 series edge. The last meeting came at the UCF Invitational on Sept. 11, 2021, a 3-0 Florida State win.

Invitational history
FGCU went 2-1 at last year's home invitational, sweeping James Madison in straight sets before winning a five-set battle in the rematch, with the Eagles' lone loss coming against then-No. 17 Missouri.

The FGCU Invitational gets underway Friday, Aug. 28, at Alico Arena, with the two other matchups in the field, Florida State vs. BYU on Friday at 2 p.m. and Florida State vs. VCU on Saturday at 1 p.m., rounding out the weekend slate.

SEASON TICKETS
Season tickets for the FGCU 2026 volleyball campaign are now on sale, and you can take advantage of 12 home Eagles matches, including two tournaments featuring some of the nation's best teams, with plans starting at only $60.By securing your season tickets now, you can save over 50% compared to purchasing single-game tickets for FGCU volleyball.

MINI PLANS
Not sure about a full season? Take advantage of one of our Mini Plans! Now you can Pick 2, Pick 3 or Pick 5! For just $20, you can get a ticket to any two volleyball matches. Add another game to that tally as the Pick 3 mini plan is only $25. Or spend $35 and pick any five home games from the FGCU men's soccer, women's soccer and/or volleyball schedules.

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