The FGCU volleyball team hosted Jacksonville University on Saturday, Oct. 26, at Alico Arena. Heading into the matchup, both Jacksonville and FGCU were first and second in the ASUN standings, respectively. FGCU came within a point of forcing a fifth set, but Jacksonville shut the door with six straight points to hand the Eagles a loss.

The Eagles (13-8, 7-3) entered the matchup with a two-game win streak after defeating FIU and UNF earlier in the week.

The first set was very much back-and-forth, with each team exchanging the lead. After 10 serves, FGCU led 6-4, and after another 10, the game was tied at 10 apiece. Outside hitters Ava Smith and Julija Grubisic Cabo led FGCU, recording five of the eight kills in that span.

Both squads again exchanged points until the 27th serve, where the Dolphins (18-4, 9-1) upped the pressure and scored points in seven of the next 10 serves. The Eagles did all they could in the later stages of the first, but Jacksonville shut the door and stole the set 25-18.

Going into the second set, Jacksonville continued the pressure and took an early lead 3-0. The Eagles quickly responded and tied the game with three of their own. For the next 10 serves, both sides traded scores. A late set surge from FGCU wasn’t enough to topple Jacksonville as they fell 25-22 heading into the third.

To begin the third set, FGCU came out of the gate with a 5-2 lead. Cabo recorded eight kills in the third set alone. The Eagles got out to a commanding 23-16 lead. After allowing one more kill, outside hitters Cabo and Barbara Koehler recorded back-to-back kills to finish the set, giving FGCU its first and only set win of the match.

Jacksonville came back stronger in the fourth set, setting itself up early with a 10-5 lead. A series of attack errors trimmed the deficit to 10-8, but the Dolphins again found a way to come back.

Several kills from Koehler and outside hitter Camila Soto tied the set at 16-16, and from that point onward, the momentum seemed to shift in favor of the Eagles.

The Eagles needed a set win to extend the game, but the Dolphins did all they could to deny that from happening. Despite being at set point, FGCU couldn’t finish, as Jacksonville won six straight serves to take the match, 26-24.

“We’ve been in this position against FIU on Tuesday, we were familiar with the situation and what it takes to start and win the final three,” head coach Thais Baziquetto-Allen said. “When we’re down and have to reverse sweep, and we had a chance to finish for just one point and we almost did.”

Cabo recorded 17 kills, middle blocker Erica Muhizi had nine blocks, and setter Eliska Vytiskova tallied 23 assists.

“I think offensively, [the team] just needs to be a little bit better in some different locations, and I think if we get to that, then we’ll be fine,” said Baziquetto-Allen.

With six games remaining in the regular season, FGCU is tied for second with Eastern Kentucky in the ASUN standings. The Eagles will look to get back in the win column when they travel to Charlotte, North Carolina, to take on Queens University on Oct. 31.