FORT MYERS, Fla. - The College of Southern Idaho battled with top-ranked Florida Southwestern, falling 25-22, 25-23, 25-20, before beating Hillsborough CC 25-21, 25-11, 25-18 in the Battle at the Beach Tournament Friday.
The Golden Eagles jumped out to the lead in game one against the three-time defending national champions and stayed with them all match.
Ashlee Stanger led CSI with eight kills. Isabel Smart added six kills, five digs and four blocks while Mina Benucci had four kills and five blocks. In her first match as a Golden Eagle, setter Dalayni Brindley posted 16 assists and seven digs. Defensively, Hazuna Akishige led the way with 16 digs and four assists.
CSI had little trouble getting past Hillsborough in the second match.
Stanger finished with eight kills again and Smart finished with a team-high 11 kills and two blocks. Benucci added eight kills and freshman outside hitter Vivian Goto had six kills and seven digs. Brindley again led in assists with 15 along with six digs and Akishige posted a team-high 16 digs.
The Golden Eagles finish their tourney trip Saturday with games against Eastern Florida State at 7 a.m. MT and #15 Daytona State College at 1 p.m.