COLUMBIA, Mo. - The Florida Gulf Coast Eagles (3-5) closed out the Mizzou Tournament with a 3-1 decision to Missouri (6-2) on Sunday at the Hearnes Center, falling 14-25, 25-16, 17-25, 18-25 in the tournament finale.

Missouri built an early cushion in the first set, but Florida Gulf Coast stayed within striking distance behind kills from Julija Grubisic Cabo, Katie Gielas and Erica Muhizi, trimming the deficit down to 8-12. Missouri answered with points at the net to push the lead back out, but the Eagles kept swinging to the finish, with Amany Kuwa and Grubisic Cabo scoring back-to-back points before Missouri closed out the 25-14 set.

Florida Gulf Coast flipped the script in set two. Abby Toeniskoetter opened the set with a kill, and after the two teams traded points early, Dinara Sabitova took over behind the service line, ripping off two aces and setting up kills from Maju Hildebrand and Gielas during a six-point run that turned a 5-5 tie into a commanding 10-5 lead for the Eagles. Grubisic Cabo caught fire in the middle of the set, piling up four kills and a service ace to help push the margin to 22-13, and back-to-back aces from Gielas extended it further before a closing kill from Camila Soto finished off the 25-16 set win.

Florida Gulf Coast carried the set two momentum into the third, opening on a four-point run fueled by Eliska Vytiskova's serving, including two aces, to grab a 5-2 lead. Kills from Grubisic Cabo, Gielas and Hildebrand helped the Eagles build their lead to 14-11, but Missouri answered with a push of its own in the middle of the set to even the score and eventually pull ahead for good, closing out the 25-17 set.

The fourth set was tight early, with the two teams tying the score five times, the last at 7-7 on an Eagles block. Missouri broke the tie with a run at the net to take control, and though Florida Gulf Coast battled to cut the deficit to four points twice in the final stretch, on a Sabitova kill and a Grubisic Cabo/Kuwa block, Missouri closed out the match on the ensuing point, 25-18.

Florida Gulf Coast was paced by Grubisic Cabo, who led all Eagles with 13 kills and a team-high 15.5 points to go with two aces and five digs. Gielas added 12 kills and two aces of her own for 14.5 points, while Toeniskoetter was the most efficient hitter on the floor, going 6-for-8 for a .625 clip. Sabitova and Vytiskova ran the Eagles' two-setter system, combining for 32 assists and four service aces between them, and Anna Marzella paced the defense with a team-high 13 digs. Kuwa led Florida Gulf Coast with four total blocks.

Florida Gulf Coast heads to Nebraska next, opening the Husker Invitational against No. 18 North Carolina on Saturday, Sept. 19 at 1 p.m. ET from the Bob Devaney Sports Center in Lincoln, Neb.

HIGHLIGHTS:

• Julija Grubisic Cabo led all Eagles with 13 kills and a team-high 15.5 points, adding two aces and five digs
• Katie Gielas added 12 kills and two aces for 14.5 points
• Abby Toeniskoetter was the most efficient hitter on the floor, going 6-for-8 (.625)
• Anna Marzella paced the defense with a team-high 13 digs.

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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