Fort Myers, Fla. – The defending Atlantic Sun regular season champion Florida Gulf Coast Eagles defeated UMBC, 3-0, in the opening match for both squads at Alico Arena.
The hosts hit nearly 30.0 percent and produced seven service aces in a 25-14, 25-16, 25-14 victory.
UMBC sophomore middle blocker Beste Ayhan (Istanbul, Turkey) led all players with five blocks. Graduate student libero Loren Teter (Redondo Beach, Calif.) contributed a team-high 14 digs, while sophomore Aysia Miller (Mililiani, Hawaii) paced the squad with 17 assists.
Senior outside hitter Paige Krenik (Foothill Ranch, Calif.) led the Retrievers with seven kills and added a dozen digs.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- A kill by Krenik tied set one at 5-5, but a 7-2 FGCU run gave the hosts some breathing room. UMBC was still within 19-14 after a Miller put-away, but the Eagles tallied the final six points of the set.
- UMBC led the second set in the early stages and took its final advantage at 9-8 on an FGCU service error. But the Eagles outscored UMBC, 7-1, and surged in front, 15-10, before a block by Ayhan and freshman outside hitter Mia Bilusic (Zagreb, Croatia) halted the run. FGCU then extended the run to 14-3 and went on to take the second set.
- Similar to the first set, a Krenik kill knotted the set at 5-5 and the Retrievers stayed within striking distance (8-10) in the early going. The Eagles responded by rattling off eight consecutive points and ended up closing out the match.
OTHER NOTES
- A dozen Retrievers saw action, including five players making their debuts in the black-and-gold. Bilusic was the lone freshmen starter for UMBC.
- Junior Emily Ferketic (Pittsburgh, Pa.) recorded five kills without committing an error in the match
UP NEXT
- UMBC continues play in Fort Myers, taking on South Florida (10 a.m.) and Rutgers (2:30 p.m.) in Alico Arena on Saturday.
