COLUMBIA, Mo. - Florida Gulf Coast University volleyball hits the road for the first time in 2026, traveling to Columbia, Mo., for the Mizzou Tournament from Friday, Sept. 11, through Sunday, Sept. 13. American Conference member Wichita State, reigning Sun Belt champion Arkansas State and SEC host Missouri make up the four-team field.

The Eagles open the weekend Friday at 5 p.m. ET against Wichita State in the first-ever meeting between the programs. FGCU takes on Arkansas State Saturday at 7 p.m. ET before closing the trip Sunday at 1 p.m. ET against Missouri.

FGCU enters the weekend at 2-3 after splitting the Sunshine State Classic, taking down Florida Atlantic 3-1 (25-20, 27-25, 18-25, 25-19) on Thursday before falling in four sets to West Virginia on Saturday. The Eagles pushed the Mountaineers to extra points in a 30-28 third-set win and have now won at least one set in all five matches this season, each of which has gone four sets. The win over FAU extended FGCU's winning streak in the series to six matches, dating to 2018.

Freshman opposite Maju Hildebrand earned ASUN Freshman of the Week honors on Tuesday, the first weekly award of her career, after posting 13 kills in each match of the Sunshine State Classic and adding a 13-kill, 14-dig double-double against Florida Atlantic. She leads the Eagles with 71 kills (3.55 per set) on the season and has posted 13 or more kills in every match, following a 45-kill FGCU Invitational that set a program record for a freshman over the first three matches of a season.

Senior setter Dinara Sabitova was named to the Sunshine State Classic All-Tournament Team after handing out 52 assists (6.50 per set) and digging 21 balls on the weekend, highlighted by a 28-assist, 13-dig double-double against the Owls. She leads FGCU with 145 assists (7.25 per set), while senior captain Eliska Vytiskova added 30 assists in seven sets over the two matches.

Senior captain Julija Grubisic Cabo led the Eagles with 30 digs (3.75 per set) at the Sunshine State Classic to go with 21 kills, posting a 13-kill, 16-dig double-double against FAU. The Preseason All-ASUN selection has 62 kills and a team-high 58 digs on the season with three double-doubles. Senior middle blocker Abby Toeniskoetter turned in 19 kills on .317 hitting over the weekend with three aces, including 10 kills against West Virginia, and leads FGCU in hitting percentage (.311) and aces (six) through five matches. Junior outside hitter Camila Soto added 15 kills across the two matches, including nine against the Mountaineers, and senior captain Anna Marzella led the back row with 22 digs. Freshman middle blocker Amany Kuwa recorded six total blocks against FAU and has been in on 21 of the Eagles' 36 total blocks this season. Sophomore middle blocker Erica Muhizi, an ASUN All-Freshman Team honoree in 2025, made her season debut against West Virginia after representing Sweden at the European Volleyball Championship, recording two kills on five swings and two total blocks in two sets.

Wichita State (Friday, Sept. 11, 5 p.m. ET)
Wichita State arrives at 2-4 after going 2-1 at its home Shocker Volleyball Classic and dropping three straight on the road, most recently a 3-0 decision at in-state rival No. 22 Kansas on Tuesday. Sophomore outside hitter McKenzie Jones leads the Shockers with 61 kills (3.05 per set), with sophomore outside hitters Jenna Cubbage (44 kills) and Olivia Cohee (41 kills, 46 digs) sharing the load on the pins. Fifth-year middle blocker Maddie Wilson has 43 kills on .286 hitting with 19 total blocks, and senior middle blocker Allie Paulsen is hitting .457 on 46 swings. Senior setter Jordan Heatherly has distributed 120 assists (6.00 per set) with a team-high 10 aces and 42 digs, and freshman setter Addie Oeth has added 87 assists. Fifth-year defensive specialist Gabi Maas leads the Shockers with 54 digs. Wichita State is hitting .173 as a team with a .926 reception percentage. Chris Lamb leads a Shocker program that has already faced 2025 NCAA Tournament teams Colorado and Northern Colorado this season. 

Friday's match is the first-ever meeting between FGCU and Wichita State.

Arkansas State (Saturday, Sept. 12, 7 p.m. ET)
Arkansas State is 3-3 and riding a three-match winning streak after an 0-3 start against Texas A&M, Grand Canyon and Cal Poly. The Red Wolves won in five at Bowling Green before taking four-set wins over Northern Kentucky and 2025 Patriot League champion American last weekend, with senior outside hitter Devyn Lewis (12 kills, .360) and senior outside hitter Kaitlin Whitlock (10 kills) leading the way against the Eagles. Whitlock paces A-State with 64 kills (2.91 per set) and 59 digs, with Lewis (54 kills) and junior right side Addison Collum (52 kills) rounding out the pin attack. Senior middle blocker Haley Glunz has 42 kills on .240 hitting with 21 total blocks and eight aces, and freshman Calea Bush is hitting .388 with 14 total blocks (0.74 per set). As a team, the Red Wolves average 2.18 blocks per set. Senior setter Erin Madigan has handed out 164 assists (7.45 per set), and senior Mia Maloney leads the defense with 98 digs (4.45 per set). Brian Gerwig guided the Red Wolves to the Sun Belt regular season and tournament titles and an NCAA Tournament berth in 2025, and the program opens 2026 with a nine-match road trip that concludes in Columbia. 

Saturday's match is the second all-time meeting between the programs. Arkansas State took the only previous matchup, 3-1, at the USF Classic in Tampa on Sept. 5, 2015.

Missouri (Sunday, Sept. 13, 1 p.m. ET)
Missouri is 3-2 after opening the season with three straight sweeps of Western Illinois, Towson and Idaho before four-set losses to No. 25 Oregon and at No. 5 Louisville on Wednesday. The Tigers are hitting .284 as a team, the top mark in the field, with 1.65 aces and 2.44 blocks per set. Sophomore outside hitter Paige Felder leads Missouri with 48 kills (3.00 per set) and eight aces, and freshman outside hitter Ceylin Kuyan has added 39 kills. Junior middle blocker Lauren Larkin is hitting .500 with 32 kills, sophomore right side Maca Lobaglio has 32 kills and 14 total blocks, and freshman middle blocker Eva Smith is hitting .321 with a team-high 19 total blocks and six aces. Junior setter Nina Mandovic has 125 assists (7.81 per set), and senior libero Ainoah Cruz leads the defense with 87 digs (5.12 per set), including 27 at Louisville. Dawn Sullivan's Tigers spent seven weeks in the national polls in 2025 and are 3-1 at home this season. 

Sunday's match is the third all-time meeting between FGCU and Missouri, with the Tigers holding a 2-0 series edge. Missouri took a 3-0 decision at the USF Classic on Sept. 4, 2015, and the teams met most recently at the 2025 FGCU Invitational on Aug. 30, 2025, a 3-0 Missouri win at Alico Arena.

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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