FORT MYERS, Fla. - Florida Gulf Coast University volleyball stays home for a second straight weekend, hosting the Sunshine State Classic at Alico Arena from Thursday, Sept. 3, through Saturday, Sept. 5. In-state foe Florida Atlantic and Big 12 member West Virginia make up the three-team field.

The Eagles open the event Thursday at 6 p.m. against Florida Atlantic in the Coastal Clash. West Virginia and FAU square off Friday at 1 p.m. in the lone match not involving FGCU, before the Eagles close the weekend Saturday at 2 p.m. against the Mountaineers on Youth Team Day.

FGCU enters the weekend at 1-2 after the FGCU Invitational, opening the season with a 3-1 win over VCU before dropping four-set decisions to No. 24 BYU and RV Florida State. The Eagles won at least one set in each match and hit a season-best .323 in the finale against the Seminoles. A combined 2,774 fans came through Alico Arena over the three days, the program's highest-attended season-opening weekend of all time.

Freshman opposite Maju Hildebrand set the tone for the Eagles on opening weekend, piling up 45 kills across the three matches to set a program record for an FGCU freshman over the first three matches of a season, surpassing Jill Hopper's 39-kill mark from 2011. Hildebrand posted 13 kills against VCU and matched a team-high 16 against both BYU and Florida State, closing with her first collegiate double-double (16 kills, 11 digs) against the Seminoles on her way to FGCU Invitational All-Tournament Team honors.

Senior outside hitter Julija Grubisic Cabo, a Preseason All-ASUN selection, posted double-digit kills in all three matches (16, 12, 13) while leading the Eagles with 28 digs, recording double-doubles against VCU and BYU. Sophomore outside hitter Shay Heaney added 32 kills, a team-high five aces and 24 digs in her FGCU debut, including 13 kills against BYU.

Senior setter Dinara Sabitova handed out 93 assists (7.75 per set) on the weekend, capped by a 46-assist effort against Florida State that was the most by an Eagle since Lily Tessier's 48 against Kennesaw State on Nov. 17, 2023. Senior captain Anna Marzella led the back row with 31 digs (2.58 per set), and freshman middle blocker Amany Kuwa paced the block with 13.0 total blocks (1.08 per set) while hitting .370 with 14 kills. Senior middle blocker Abby Toeniskoetter closed the weekend with nine kills on .471 hitting against Florida State.

Florida Atlantic (Thursday, Sept. 3, 6 p.m.)
Florida Atlantic arrives at 3-0 after sweeping its way through the Florida Atlantic Invitational last weekend. The Owls took down Merrimack, ASUN member Stetson and FIU without dropping a set, hitting .307 as a team with 18 aces and 20.0 total blocks. Junior right side Sequoia Layne leads the way with 30 kills on .455 hitting in eight sets, including a 14-kill, .700 night against Stetson. Junior outside hitter Olivia Hart has added 23 kills (.321) and 20 digs. An American Preseason All-Conference selection, Hart led FAU with 385 kills, 41 aces and 12 double-doubles in 2025. Senior right side Anna Hartman opened with 12 kills on .600 hitting against Merrimack. Junior outside hitter Luye Marquez-Moreno leads the Owls with 25 digs. Graduate setter Maya Van Heyst has distributed 66 assists, and sophomore setter Emsley Venard has added 33. Fernanda Nelson is in her 15th season leading the Owls. She spent four seasons (2008-11) as an assistant coach at FGCU, where she was part of the staff that captured the 2008 Atlantic Sun regular season title.

Thursday's match is the 15th meeting between the programs, with FGCU holding an 8-6 edge in the series. The Eagles have won five straight in the series, all by sweep, most recently a 3-0 decision at Alico Arena on Sept. 15, 2023.

West Virginia (Saturday, Sept. 5, 2 p.m.)
West Virginia is 1-1 after opening at home in the Country Roads Challenge. The Mountaineers hit .324 in a four-set win over UTRGV before falling in five to UMBC. Senior outside hitter Nina Horning has 32 kills (3.56 per set) through two matches after leading WVU with 324 kills a year ago. Sophomore right side Anna Barr has 23 kills on .327 hitting. Redshirt senior setter Alexis Finnvold has handed out 64 assists with four aces and 20 digs. Finnvold ranked second in the Big 12 with 52 aces in 2025. West Virginia has totaled 25.0 blocks (2.78 per set), led up front by freshman middle blocker Mirjam Kask (11 total blocks, .462 hitting) and senior middle blocker Maddy McGath (11 total blocks). Senior opposite Trinity Sheridan, an All-Big 12 Second Team selection in 2025, has added 13 kills. Jen Greeny is in her third season at the helm after guiding the Mountaineers to 15 wins in 2025, WVU's highest total since 2021.

Saturday marks just the second all-time meeting between FGCU and West Virginia. The Mountaineers took the only previous matchup in five sets at Alico Arena on Sept. 8, 2018.

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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