FORT MYERS, Fla. –Hatter Volleyball struggled and fell to FGCU, 3-0, Tuesday night at the Alico Arena.

SU came out of the gates ready to play going up 7-4 with kills from Anabelle Standish, Leilani Vitale and Alexis Thompson. The Eagles wrested control at that point reeling off a 7-1 run to go up 11-8. The home side didn't look back en route to a 25-15 first set win.

After splitting the first four points, FGCU put the hammer down again by going up 7-3 before a second streak pushed it to 16-8. The damage continued as the Eagles closed out the set 25-12.

Stetson forced the issue in the third set with back-and-forth play with the Eagles. Eight ties and four lead changes as the pair of teams challenged each other. While FGCU was holding the visitors at bay, SU broke through in the third set, 16-15, but that spurred the home side. A 10-2 run ended the Hatters third set and the night as FGCU closed out a sweep of the Hatters but not without a fight in the final frame.

SU Volleyball faces Bellarmine in the Edmunds Center on Friday as the second match in a three matches over five day swing continues. First serve on ESPN+ is set for 6 p.m.

About Stetson University Athletics: Stetson University's Athletics Program is driven by a shared purpose. It is what inspires, motivates and binds us together. More than a task, a reason for being. THE HATTER PURPOSE is to create and provide an experience of a lifetime through teamwork and relationships to achieve excellence. This purpose is achieved through five Core Values: Communication, Integrity, Excellence, Value People and Commitment. To learn more about the HATS program and our Core Values, visit GoHatters.com/HATS (PDF). Get in on the conversation on social media by following Stetson Athletics on  Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. For video content, visit our YouTube channels: Stetson Hatters, Stetson Athletics and, for live events, Hatter Vision.