FORT MYERS, Fla. - The FGCU Eagles (2-2) opened the Sunshine State Classic with a 3-1 win over Florida Atlantic (3-1) on Thursday night at Alico Arena, taking the match 25-20, 27-25, 18-25, 25-19 to extend their winning streak over the Owls to six straight meetings.

The first set was tight early, tied at 3 and again at 7, before FGCU found its footing. A Julija Grubisic Cabo kill and a block from Amany Kuwa and Maju Hildebrand pushed the Eagles in front 12-8, and a Hildebrand kill made it 14-10. Anna Marzella then went to the line and FGCU ripped off four straight, a Shay Heaney kill, a Heaney-Abby Toeniskoetter block, a Marzella ace and an FAU attack error, to open up an 18-10 lead. The Owls made a late push with five in a row to get within 22-19, but Hildebrand answered with a kill for set point and FGCU closed out the 25-20 set on an FAU service error.

Marzella's serve sparked the Eagles again to open the second. With FGCU up 3-1, she served four consecutive points, including an ace, and Toeniskoetter capped the run with a kill for a 7-1 lead. FAU chipped away and tied it at 15, but Grubisic Cabo answered with a kill, Camila Soto added one of her own and Grubisic Cabo struck again to put FGCU back up 18-15. The Eagles led 21-17 before the Owls tied it at 21, setting up a close finish that saw the teams deadlocked at 22, 23, 24 and 25. Grubisic Cabo hammered an Eliska Vytiskova set for set point at 25-24, and after FAU tied it once more, Kuwa terminated another Vytiskova set to go up 26-25 before an FAU attack error sealed the 27-25 set and a 2-0 match lead.

FAU came out firing in the third, jumping to a 4-0 lead and staying ahead throughout. FGCU trimmed the deficit to 12-10 on a Toeniskoetter kill, a Soto-Kuwa block and an Owls error, but FAU pulled away from there to take the set 25-18 and force a fourth.

The fourth was a battle from the start, with the two teams tied 11 times through the first 28 points of the set. Tied at 14, a Toeniskoetter kill gave FGCU the sideout and the serve, and Hildebrand went to the line and delivered the decisive run, a Toeniskoetter-Grubisic Cabo block, a Grubisic Cabo kill, another Toeniskoetter kill and a second Grubisic Cabo kill, to surge ahead 19-14. FAU closed to 21-19, but Kuwa put down a Sabitova set to make it 22-19 and Sabitova finished it from the line. Her ace made it 23-19, and Hildebrand and Kuwa combined for back-to-back blocks on the final two points to close out the 25-19 set and the 3-1 match win.

FGCU out-hit FAU .200 to .149 on the night, out-dug the Owls 74-57 and finished with 10 team blocks in a match that featured 22 ties and eight lead changes. Grubisic Cabo and Hildebrand each posted 13 kills and a double-double, Grubisic Cabo adding a match-high 16 digs and Hildebrand 14. Sabitova ran the offense with 28 assists and 13 digs for a double-double of her own, while Vytiskova chipped in 16 assists. Toeniskoetter hit .333 with 9 kills, 4 blocks and an ace, Kuwa added 6 kills and a match-high 6 total blocks, including the final two points of the match, and Soto came off the bench to hit .308 with 6 kills. Marzella anchored the back row with 12 digs and two aces.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Julija Grubisic Cabo (13 kills, 16 digs), Maju Hildebrand (13 kills, 14 digs) and Dinara Sabitova (28 assists, 13 digs) each posted double-doubles.
• Abby Toeniskoetter hit .333 with 9 kills, 4 blocks and an ace.
• Amany Kuwa tallied 6 kills and a match-high 6 total blocks, including the final two points of the match.
• Camila Soto added 6 kills on .308 hitting off the bench.
• Anna Marzella recorded 12 digs and two aces.
• FGCU out-hit FAU .200 to .149 and out-dug the Owls 74-57.
• The Eagles have won six straight over FAU.

POSTGAME THOUGHTS:

Postgame thoughts from Coach Thais Baziquetto-Allen after tonight's win!#WingsUp pic.twitter.com/Zo9vOePL89

— FGCU Volleyball (@FGCU_VB) September 4, 2026

The Eagles are back in action on Saturday, Sept. 5, as they take on West Virginia at 2 p.m. at Alico Arena to close out the Sunshine State Classic.

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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.

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