The shorthanded Florida A&M Women’s Volleyball team split a pair of matches at the Gator Invitational Tournament hosted by the University of Florida at the Stephen O’Connell Center.

Coach Tony Trifonov’s club (2-3), continuing the young 2008 campaign without a true setter, blanked Jacksonville (Fla.), 3-0 Saturday, on the heels of a hard-fought four-set loss Friday to nationally-ranked Long Beach (Calif.) State, 3-1.

Junior middle blocker Maria Gomez led FAMU in the two matches with 27 kills, recording 13 kills in Saturday’s win and 14 in Friday’s match against Long Beach State.

? In Saturday’s 3-0 win (25-22, 25-18, 22-22) against Jacksonville (2-3), FAMU was led by Gomez (13 kills) and 2007 MEAC Rookie of the Year sophomore Jovana Blazeski with a match-high 21 kills. Sophomore libero Susan Egoavil, who has been pressed into service as the club’s setter, had a match-high 41 assists.

Junior Cinthia Corzo led the club in digs with eight, while Blazeski and sophomore Chelsea Pennick each had seven.

? In Friday’s battle with Long Beach State (5-0), FAMU took the first set, 25-19, before the 49ers took the next three, 25-14, 25-12, and 25-10 to clinch the victory.

Gomez took the lead again, finishing with a team-high 14 kills, followed by senior middle blocker Samara Ferraz with nine kills and Blazeski with seven. Egoavil had 32 assists in the bout, while Blazeski led the club with 16 digs Friday.

WHAT’S NEXT: FAMU heads north to East Lansing, Michigan for a three-match appearance at the Michigan State Invitational, Thursday through Saturday.... Thursday, FAMU opens against Wisconsin-Milwaukee (7:00 p.m.), takes on host Michigan State (6:00 p.m.) on Friday, then closes out on Saturday at 12 noon against the University of Connecticut.