LINCOLN, Neb. - The Florida Gulf Coast University volleyball team (3-7) dropped a four-set decision to No. 1 Nebraska (10-0) on Sunday afternoon at the Bob Devaney Sports Center, falling 3-1 (25-10, 25-17, 25-27, 25-14) in the second match of the Husker Invitational. In its first-ever meeting with the Huskers, and its first-ever match against a No. 1-ranked opponent, FGCU earned the third set, 27-25, in front of a crowd of 10,497, becoming one of just three teams to take a set from Nebraska this season. It marks only the second set win over a top-10 opponent in program history and gave the Eagles a set win over a team from each of the four Power Four conferences this season.
 
Abby Toeniskoetter delivered a kill to tie the opening set at 2-2, and Maju Hildebrand kills at 4-5 and 5-7 and a Katie Gielas kill at 7-9 kept the Eagles within two before Nebraska pulled away, 25-10.
 
Gielas opened the second set with a kill to put FGCU up 1-0 and kills from Camila Soto and Toeniskoetter kept the Eagles within one at 2-3 and 3-4. A Julija Grubisic Cabo service ace at 7-11, a Hildebrand kill and a Hildebrand-Toeniskoetter block pulled FGCU within three at 9-12. Gielas finished the set with four kills and Grubisic Cabo added three as Nebraska took the frame, 25-17.
 
The Eagles earned the third set, 27-25, in a battle from start to finish that featured nine ties and five lead changes. Nebraska led 10-5 before FGCU answered with a 4-0 run, getting a block from Gielas and Amany Kuwa, kills from Toeniskoetter and Hildebrand, and a Hildebrand-Toeniskoetter block to pull within 9-10. The Eagles tied it at 11-11 and 12-12, and a Gielas service ace at 13-12 gave FGCU its first lead of the set. After Nebraska went back in front 18-16, the Eagles ripped off a 4-0 run, starting with a Kuwa kill, to take a 20-18 lead. Nebraska tied it at 20-20, and FGCU answered with another 4-0 run, starting with a Hildebrand kill and featuring an Anna Marzella service ace and a Gielas kill, to build a 24-20 advantage. Nebraska rallied with five straight points to lead 25-24, but the Eagles stayed poised. A Hildebrand-Toeniskoetter block tied it at 25-25, a Nebraska attack error gave FGCU the lead at 26-25, and Hildebrand ended it with a service ace. Six different Eagles recorded a kill in the third set, led by three from Dinara Sabitova, and FGCU out-hit Nebraska, holding Nebraska to just .054.

 
Consecutive kills from Kuwa, Toeniskoetter, Gielas and Hildebrand fueled a 4-0 run in the fourth set that cut a six-point deficit to 9-11, and Toeniskoetter finished the set with three kills. Nebraska closed it out, 25-14.
 
Gielas and Hildebrand tied for the team lead with eight kills apiece. Hildebrand also added six digs, three total blocks and a service ace, while Gielas chipped in four digs, a block and an ace. Grubisic Cabo finished with seven kills, eight digs and an ace, and Toeniskoetter had seven kills and three total blocks. Sabitova dished out a match-high 29 assists and added four kills, Kuwa hit .500 with three kills and no errors, and Marzella matched Grubisic Cabo's team-high eight digs.
 
HIGHLIGHTS:

• Florida Gulf Coast became one of three teams to take a set from Nebraska this season and has now taken a set from a team in all four Power Four conferences.
• The third-set win is only the second set win over a top-10 opponent in program history.
• Maju Hildebrand tied for the team lead with eight kills and added six digs, three blocks and the service ace that sealed the third set.
• Katie Gielas totaled eight kills, four digs, a block and a service ace, including the kill that put FGCU up 24-20 in the third set.
• Julija Grubisic Cabo recorded seven kills, eight digs and a service ace.
• Abby Toeniskoetter had seven kills and three blocks, including the block that tied the third set at 25-25.
• Dinara Sabitova recorded a match-high 29 assists and four kills, three of them in the third set.
• Florida Gulf Coast out-hit No. 1 Nebraska in the third set, holding the Huskers to just .054.

 
POSTGAME THOUGHTS:


FGCU returns home to open conference play against Stetson on Saturday, Sept. 26, at 6 p.m. 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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