DeLand, Fla. ? The Stetson volleyball team (4-21, 1-16 Atlantic Sun) put up a hard fight against first place and reigning A-Sun regular season champions Florida Gulf Coast (18-6, 16-1 A-Sun) Tuesday night at the Edmunds Center but ultimately fell to the Eagles 25-19, 18-25, 25-20, 25-15.  Sophomore outside hitter Stephanie Canfield (Panama City, Fla.) led the Hatters with 10 kills in Stetson's home finale for 2008.

After dropping the opening set 25-19, Stetson surprised the visiting Eagles with a 25-18 victory in Set 2.  The Hatters took advantage of eight FGCU hitting errors and put together a 6-1 run in the middle of the set to cruise away to the win.  Although Stetson showed considerable fight after the intermission, it wasn't enough to stop FGCU from collecting its ninth consecutive victory.

Canfield made just two hitting errors all night and hit .400 for the Hatters, adding four digs to her total.  Junior right side Sarah Sears (Ashburn, Va.) enjoyed a strong match as well, collecting nine kills without an error, a match-high .429 attack percentage, six digs and a block.  Freshman setter Jennica Hagberg (Niceville, Fla.) handed out 40 assists and picked up three blocks while junior middle blocker Laura Boyd (La Crescenta, Calif.) came up with five kills and four blocks.  Senior outside hitter Rebecca Orzechowicz (Miami, Fla.) and senior Melanie Boyer, playing at the Edmunds Center for the final time, tallied 15 and 13 digs, respectively, with Orzechowicz adding nine kills.

Ana Kokanovic recorded 15 kills and 13 digs to lead Florida Gulf Coast while setter Roberta Santos had 43 assists, 10 kills, six digs and four blocks in a complete effort.  Holly Youngquist led all players in the match with 17 digs.