DeLAND, Fla. — Stetson Volleyball celebrated the contributions of three graduating student-athletes Saturday evening at Insight Credit Union Arena, recognizing Kayla Balfour, Vitoria Stedile and Maria Ozaeta as the Hatters concluded their 2026 regular season against FGCU. Despite a strong defensive presence at the net and a competitive third-set effort, Stetson fell to the Eagles in straight sets, 25-18, 25-18 and 25-21.
The Hatters (5-20, 1-13 ASUN) honored their three seniors for their contributions to the program before taking the court for their final regular-season contest. All three contributed during the match, with Balfour recording five kills and two block assists, Stedile finishing with eight digs and Ozaeta adding five digs.
Stetson recorded 28 kills, 34 digs and 10 team blocks, holding a 10-6 advantage over FGCU in blocking. The Hatters' strongest offensive performance came in the third set, when they hit .194 with 10 kills and just three attacking errors while challenging the Eagles throughout the frame.
Andrea Diaz Dominguez led Stetson with seven kills and a team-high nine digs, while Balfour contributed five kills on nine attempts for a .333 hitting percentage. Karsu Bayraktar provided a spark with four kills and no attacking errors on eight attempts, finishing with a team-best .500 hitting percentage.
Keely Starnes anchored the Hatters' defensive effort with two solo blocks and three block assists, while Vanessa Shevchenko and Maia Keely Pou each distributed 12 assists. Shevchenko also contributed seven digs, three kills and a service ace.
FGCU (13-11, 10-4 ASUN) finished with 46 kills and a .227 hitting percentage, receiving 10 kills from Julija Grubisic Cabo and nine apiece from Abby Toeniskoetter, Katie Gielas and Maju Hildebrand.
First Set
Stetson opened the evening with an early point behind a block from Starnes, but FGCU responded with six of the next seven points to establish a 6-2 advantage. The Hatters began to settle into the match behind Diaz Dominguez, who recorded consecutive kills to help Stetson remain within striking distance during the opening exchanges.
The Eagles extended their lead to 13-6 behind a combination of attacking production and effective serving, although Stetson continued to generate opportunities through its front-row players. Soraya Teston, Balfour and Shevchenko contributed kills as the Hatters worked to establish offensive consistency.
FGCU eventually moved ahead 20-12, but Stetson responded with a pair of points before producing its strongest run of the set in the closing stages. After trailing 23-14, the Hatters scored four consecutive points behind kills from Alessia Bracchi and an effective defensive presence at the net.
Starnes recorded a solo block during the stretch, while Bracchi added another kill to bring Stetson within five at 23-18. FGCU answered with the final two points to secure the opening set, 25-18.
The Hatters finished the frame with 10 kills and four team blocks, while the Eagles recorded 16 kills and hit .313.
Second Set
Stetson began the second set with another strong defensive play as Starnes and Bracchi combined for a block to give the Hatters the opening point. FGCU answered with an early run to move ahead 4-1, but Stetson responded with improved offensive execution.
Balfour and Teston recorded kills during a four-point stretch that gave the Hatters a 6-5 lead, while several additional contributions helped keep the set competitive through the middle stages.
The teams continued to exchange points, with Stetson receiving important production from Diaz Dominguez and Shevchenko. The Hatters remained within two points on several occasions before FGCU established an 18-15 advantage.
Stetson continued to battle, using a kill from Starnes to pull within one at 19-18 and put pressure on the Eagles late in the frame. FGCU responded with six consecutive points, however, closing out the second set by an identical 25-18 score.
The Hatters recorded eight kills and continued to create opportunities through their blocking, but FGCU's 17 kills helped the Eagles take a two-set advantage into the break.
Third Set
The Hatters delivered their most competitive performance of the evening in the third set, showing improved offensive consistency while remaining within striking distance throughout much of the frame.
After FGCU moved ahead 3-1, Stetson responded behind Diaz Dominguez and a combined block from Balfour and Shevchenko. Diaz Dominguez followed with another kill to give the Hatters a 6-5 advantage, beginning an extended stretch of back-and-forth play.
Stetson later moved ahead 9-8 before the Eagles scored five consecutive points to establish a 13-9 lead. The Hatters answered with a three-point run highlighted by a kill from Bayraktar and a service ace from Shevchenko, cutting the deficit to 13-12.
The teams continued to trade points as Stetson remained within reach, receiving contributions from Teston, Balfour and Bayraktar. A combined block from Balfour and Shevchenko eventually brought the Hatters even at 17-17, marking the seventh tie of the frame.
FGCU responded with five consecutive points to take a 22-17 advantage, but Stetson continued to compete through the closing stages. Bayraktar contributed another kill, while Sofia Torcello added a solo block to help the Hatters reach 19 points.
A block from Shevchenko and another kill from Bayraktar brought Stetson within three at 24-21, but FGCU secured the final point to take the set 25-21 and complete the three-set victory.
The Hatters finished the third frame with 10 kills and a .194 hitting percentage, their most efficient offensive set of the match. Stetson also committed just three attacking errors during the period while continuing to generate production at the net.
Saturday's contest marked the conclusion of Stetson's 2026 regular season, with the Hatters recognizing Balfour, Stedile and Ozaeta for their dedication and contributions to the volleyball program.
Hatters Top Performers
Andrea Diaz Dominguez
- Team-high seven kills on 29 attempts
- Team-high nine digs
- One solo block and one block assist
- Finished with 8.5 points
Kayla Balfour
- Five kills on nine attempts
- Recorded a .333 hitting percentage
- Added two block assists
- Finished with six points
Keely Starnes
- Two solo blocks and three block assists
- Three kills on nine attempts
- Recorded a .222 hitting percentage
- Finished with 6.5 points
Karsu Bayraktar
- Four kills on eight attempts without an attacking error
- Team-best .500 hitting percentage
- Added two digs
Vanessa Shevchenko
- 12 assists and seven digs
- Three kills and one service ace
- One solo block and two block assists
Game Notes
- Stetson concluded its 2026 regular season with a 5-20 overall record and a 1-13 mark in ASUN play, while FGCU improved to 13-11 overall and 10-4 in conference competition.
- Saturday served as Senior Day, with Stetson recognizing Kayla Balfour, Vitoria Stedile and Maria Ozaeta for their contributions to the program.
- All three seniors appeared in the match, combining for five kills, 13 digs and two block assists.
- The Hatters finished with 28 kills, 26 assists, 34 digs and 10 team blocks.
- Stetson held a 10-6 advantage in team blocks, led by Keely Starnes with two solo blocks and three block assists.
- Andrea Diaz Dominguez led the Hatters with seven kills and nine digs, finishing with 8.5 points.
- Balfour recorded five kills while hitting .333, while Bayraktar added four kills without an error for a team-high .500 hitting percentage.
- Shevchenko and Pou each recorded 12 assists, accounting for 24 of Stetson's 26 assists.
- Stetson recorded its best hitting percentage in the third set at .194, finishing with 10 kills and just three attacking errors.
- The final set featured seven ties and three lead changes as Stetson challenged FGCU before falling 25-21.
- FGCU finished with 46 kills, 46 digs and 12 service aces, with Dinara Sabitova accounting for six of those aces.
About Stetson Athletics
At Stetson University, student-athletes don't just compete—they thrive. Located in historic DeLand, Florida, between Orlando and Daytona Beach, Stetson offers the perfect blend of competitive athletics, academic excellence, and an unbeatable Central Florida lifestyle. As the oldest private university in the region, Stetson supports approximately 500 student-athletes across 19 NCAA Division I sports. Nicknamed the "Hatters" after the institution's namesake John B. Stetson, a hat manufacturer who originated the modern-day cowboy hat, most Stetson athletic teams compete in the Atlantic Sun Conference, where they proudly hold the longest active membership since 1985. With top-tier facilities, personalized support, and a welcoming campus community, Stetson is where students can grow, compete, and succeed. Learn more at GoHatters.com or follow social media accounts @StetsonHatters.
