BOCA RATON, Fla. – Stetson volleyball opened the 2026 season Friday with a pair of matches in Boca Raton, falling in five sets to FIU before dropping a three-set decision to host Florida Atlantic.
FIU 3, Stetson 2
Stetson pushed FIU to five sets in the season opener, taking the first and third frames before the Panthers rallied for a 3-2 victory (16-25, 25-11, 24-26, 25-17, 15-11).
Zuzanna Bury led the Hatters with 14 kills and 12 digs for the first double-double of the season. Lelia Fitz added nine kills, while Vitoria Stedile paced the back row with 13 digs. Kayla Balfour provided a strong presence at the net with eight blocks.
Vanessa Shevchenko directed the offense with 26 assists, while Bury also contributed a team-high two service aces.
The Hatters came out strong in the opening set, scoring the first point and never trailing on the way to a 25-16 victory. Stetson built its advantage to as many as 10 at 19-9 and controlled the net throughout the frame, recording seven blocks while taking advantage of 11 FIU attacking errors.
FIU responded with a 25-11 win in the second, but Stetson answered in a tightly contested third set. The frame featured 15 ties and six lead changes, with neither side leading by more than four. The Hatters again made their presence felt defensively with seven blocks and eventually edged the Panthers, 26-24, to take a 2-1 match lead.
The Panthers forced a deciding set with a 25-17 win in the fourth before closing the match with a 15-11 victory in the fifth.
Florida Atlantic 3, Stetson 0
Stetson returned to the court later Friday against host Florida Atlantic, falling in three sets (27-25, 25-13, 25-10).
The Hatters nearly grabbed the opening frame, battling the Owls through seven ties and four lead changes before FAU escaped with a 27-25 win. Neither team led by more than four points during the set.
Florida Atlantic carried that momentum into the second, breaking a 4-4 tie before pulling away for a 25-13 victory. The Owls then closed out the match with a 25-10 win in the third.
Shevchenko led Stetson offensively with five kills while also handing out a team-high 10 assists. Stedile finished with a match-high 11 digs, while Maia Keely Pou recorded the Hatters' lone service ace.
Stetson will look to bounce back as it continues its season-opening road swing.
The Hatters close out their weekend in Boca Raton on Saturday, taking on Merrimack at 11 a.m. at Eleanor R. Baldwin Arena.
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.
