Hatters Split on Day One of the North Florida Invite

Stetson defeats FGCU 3-2, Falls to No. 1 TCU 5-0

Jacksonville, Fla. -- No. 17 Stetson split a pair of duals on Friday, defeating FGCU 3-2 in the morning before falling 5-0 to No. 1 TCU in the afternoon on the first day of the North Florida Invite.

The Hatters (13-9) improved to 3-0 against the Eagles (10-10) this season with all three decisions coming by a 3-2 margin. Squaring off for the second time in two weeks, the teams split the opening wave with Stetson's Audrey Gauthier and Noelle Weintraub earning a 21-14, 21-16 victory at the 4 seed.

In the second wave, Carolina Ferraris and Anete Namike gave Stetson a 2-1 lead with a 21-13, 21-12 victory at the 2s. The 1s and 3s, meanwhile, each went to a third set with the dual on the line. Karin Zolnercikova and Shae Henson fell behind 1-0 in their match on court 1 before rallying for a 19-21, 24-22, 15-12 victory to clinch the dual for the Hatters.

The win improved Stetson to 5-0 against ASUN teams this season. FGCU is receiving votes in the AVCA Top 20 poll.

The Hatters battled undefeated and top-ranked TCU in the afternoon, but the Horned Frogs (22-0) came away with the 5-0 victory. It was Stetson's seventh dual all-time against an opponent ranked No. 1 in the polls. To date, the Hatters have faced nine nationally-ranked teams this season.

Stetson will face another ranked opponent Saturday when the Hatters meet No. 19 Pepperdine at noon. Stetson will also square off against tournament host UNF at 4 p.m. Visit the beach volleyball schedule page for links to live stats and video.

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.

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