LOUISVILLE, Ky.—The Atlantic Sun Conference volleyball leaders came into Knights Hall and left with a 3-0 victory, but the host Bellarmine Knights made the Florida Gulf Coast University Eagles earn the victory.
 
After dropping the first two sets 16-25 and 17-25, Bellarmine was on the verge of claiming set three, but the Eagles staved off a Knights' set point and came back to close out the match with a 28-26 win.
 
The FGCU defense was particularly stout in the opening set, using seven team blocks to limit Bellarmine to a negative hitting percentage.  While the Knights made the adjustment and finished the match with hitting games of .320 and .217, FGCU made up for it with a strong service game, finishing with a 9-0 advantage in aces.
 
Graduate transfer MaryAnn O'Toole led the Bellarmine hitters with 10 kills while hitting .250, and sophomore Kylie VanHoy barely missed a double-double with nine kills and 11 assists.  Anna Lococo was the defensive leader with 12 digs.
 
The Eagles improved to 9-0 in ASUN play with tonight's victory.  Shelby Kent led the FGCU effort with 16 kills and a .469 hitting percentage.  She also added five blocks and eight digs on defense.
 
Bellarmine saw its league record slip to 6-3, but the Knights have a chance to get back on the winning track tomorrow when they host Stetson at 4 p.m.   The Hatters dropped a 3-1 decision to Eastern Kentucky tonight and will enter play tomorrow 10-11 overall and 5-4 in the ASUN.
 
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