Tournament: FGCU Invitational
Score: FGCU 3, VCU 1 (25-17, 25-16, 26-24, 25-19)
Location: Fort Myers, Fla. (Alico Arena)
Records: VCU 0-1, FGCU 1-0
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The short story: Senior
Nina Boledovicova racked up nine kills, but it wasn't enough for VCU Friday night as the Rams dropped their 2026 season opener 3-1 at Florida Gulf Coast.
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OPENING VOLLEY
- Boledovicova hit .368 on 19 swings Friday. She added three aces and a pair of blocks for a 14-point night
- Sophomore middle blocker Sarah Dibbs-Frantz provided seven kills, while hitting .312 for the Black and Gold
- Junior setter Cansin Sendir chipped in with 30 assists, 10 digs and two service aces for VCU
- Rams' freshman outside hitter Molly McCall supplied seven kills and four digs in her collegiate debut
- Julij Grubisic Cabo led the Eagles with 16 kills and 10 digs
THE DIFFERENCE
- VCU struggled to get going offensively and hit .089 on the night. FGCU, meanwhile, hit .287
- The Eagles also owned advantages in digs (48-41), blocks (7-6) and service aces (9-6)
- FGCU hit a combined .333 in the first two sets on the way to a 2-0 lead in the match
- VCU struck back with a 26-24 win in the third set. The Rams scored the final four points of the frame, including kills by sophomore Lannah Price and Dibbs-Frantz, to rally to within 2-1
- The Eagles put the match away with a 7-1 run to end the fourth set that included three kills by Grubisic Cabo
NEXT UP
VCU will take on Florida State on Saturday, Aug. 29 at 1 p.m. in Fort Myers to conclude play in the FGCU Invitational.
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