Fort Myers, Fla. -- The Stetson Volleyball team dropped its conference opener to Florida Gulf Coast by a 3-0 (25-23, 25-19, 30-28) margin Saturday night at Alico Arena.

McKenna Foster led the Hatters (8-6, 0-1 Atlantic Sun) with 11 kills, while Kayla Weller picked up 30 assists and Alexa Drost collected 13 digs.

The Hatters made a late run in the first set, cutting a 24-17 deficit to 24-23.  Shelby Connors recorded three of her team-high seven blocks during that run, while Madison Akins added a kill and two assists.

FGCU (6-7, 1-0) broke open a 13-13 game in the second set to grab a 2-0 lead in the match.  The third set proved to be the most tightly contested as the teams traded points from 21-21 through 28-28 until the Eagles netted the final two markers to take the match.

Stetson registered nine blocks for the match, but hit just .137.

The Hatters will return home Friday night to face Jacksonville at the Edmunds Center.  First serve is set for 7 p.m. 

Notes: With her 30 helpers, Weller moved up to seventh place in Stetson history with 2,255 career assists ... Connors has recorded 21 blocks in her last four matches ... Michelle Kastner recorded her 500th career dig.