FORT MYERS, Fla. – FGCU volleyball used a stellar defensive performance to defeat USC Upstate in straight sets Saturday (Oct. 10) and move into sole possession of second place in the Atlantic Sun. In the Eagles 3-0 (25-22, 25-22, 25-17) victory, the Green and Blue recorded 70 digs, the most in a three set match since November 20, 2009 against Jacksonville, while limiting the Spartans to a .075 hitting percentage. The Eagles improved to 4-1 in the A-Sun and 13-7 overall while USC Upstate fell to 0-5 in the conference and 12-9 in 2015.

The team's 70 digs is the third highest total in a three-set match since FGCU volleyball transitioned to Division I beginning in the 2007 season.

"Before this match even started one of our points of emphasis was defense," said head coach Matt Botsford. "We knew we were playing a great defensive team so I challenged the team to match them and we actually exceeded Upstate's performance. 70 digs in three sets is unbelievable. Our defense really helped us fight through some offensive struggles."

Led by a second-consecutive double-double from Leigh Pudwill (Lino Lakes, Minn./Centennial High School/Northern Iowa), the Eagles swept USC Upstate, a team that led the nation in attacks per set and digs per set entering the weekend. Pudwill and Eleonora Kazarian (Tibilisi, Georgia/College of Central Florida) led the team with 10 kills, with Pudwill digging out 15 attacks from the Spartans as well. Vanessa Benke (Toledo, Brazil/College of Central Florida) led the team with 17 digs and was helped by Amanda Carroll (Albuquerque, N.M./Sandia High School) who contributed 13 digs along with five kills. Along the net, Lauren Tutwiler (Louisville, Ky./Assumption High School) posted five blocks to go along with her six kills.

The Green and Blue trailed in every set but kept the Spartans close in order to achieve the sweep. In the first set, FGCU took the lead for good at 21-20 after neither side left the other extend a lead to more than three. The Eagles ultimately prevailed 25-22 in the opening set and carried that momentum into the second set to win by the same score line after again taking a late lead. Six team blocks and 25 digs allowed the Eagles to finish off the match with a 25-17 third set win.

After an early 2-0 lead in favor of the home side, Upstate used a 6-1 run to take a 6-3 lead in the first set. The Spartans would continue to lead until kills from Tutwiler and Kazarian along with a block from Tutwiler and Maggie Rick (Alpharetta, Ga./Blessed Trinity Catholic High School) tied the set at nine. Tutwiler was involved on the very next point as her and Carroll picked up a block, putting FGCU in front 10-9. After a service error and a Tutwiler kill put the Eagles in front 12-10, the Spartans responded and regained the lead. With the set tied at 20, Tutwiler's fourth kill of the set gave FGCU a 21-20 advantage and a lead it would not relinquish. Carroll and Kazarian ended the set with the help of a block from Tutwiler and Pudwill, as FGCU claimed a 25-22 win. Tutwiler's three blocks helped limit the Spartans to a .167 hitting percentage, their highest of the match. The sophomore chipped in four kills to lead the team along with Kazarian and Pudwill.

The Eagles used two kills each from Kazarian and Pudwill early in the second set to take a 4-1 lead. It was short-lived however, as the Spartans responded with an 8-1 run moving the score to 9-5 in favor of the visitors. Marlene Moeller (Lüdinghausen, Germany/Pascal Gymnasium) gave the Eagles side out and sparking the team to a 6-2 run and a 12-11 lead. A service error later put FGCU in front 16-15, which was followed by kills from Carroll and Pudwill along with an ace from Caroline Jordan (Orlando, Fla./William R Boone High School). Leading 19-15, FGCU withstood an Upstate rally that closed the lead to 21-20 with another kill from Moeller. A solo block from Carroll and two attack errors from the visitors gave FGCU a 25-22 second set victory. The Eagles continued its strong defense, holding the Spartans to a .070 hitting percentage.

FGCU's strongest statistical set defensively came in the match's final set. The Eagles recorded six blocks and 25 digs, forcing nine errors which equaled the number of kills recorded by the Spartans in the final stanza. The Eagles though found themselves trailing 12-5 before making a pair of substitutions and going on a 15-4 run. Tutwiler and Rick earned side out for FGCU, going up for a block and sparking the Eagles. Kills from Kazarian and Tutwiler and a block from Kazarian and Moeller helped make up the deficit but the run was also aided by six errors by Upstate. With a 20-16 lead, FGCU received kills from Karissa Rhoades (Valrico, Fla./Bloomingdale Senior High School) and Rick to complete the sweep.

UP NEXT

The Eagles remain at home for a midweek match against Bethune-Cookman. The match is scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 13 at 7 p.m.
 
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For up-to-the minute information and a behind-the-scenes look at the FGCU volleyball program, follow on Twitter at @FGCU_VB, on Facebook at /FGCUVolleyball and on Instagram at @FGCU_VB.
 
COACH BOTSFORD
 
Head coach Matt Botsford is in his second year at the helm of the FGCU volleyball program and his teams have combined for an overall 32-18 (.640) record, including a 15-4 (.789) mark in A-Sun play. In his inaugural season, the Eagles finished with a record of 19-11 with a second-place finish in the A-Sun. Botsford's team also had five players recognized as All-Conference honorees, to set a new program high. Prior to his time in Southwest Florida, Botsford held successful stints as an assistant at Notre Dame, Miami, IUPUI, Indianapolis and most recently Colorado State. Botsford is a former professional volleyball player and is a 1998 graduate of Tri-State University, where he earned a degree in Social Studies Education. He earned a master's degree in Business Administration from the University of Indianapolis.
 
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FGCU Athletics sponsors events throughout the year to benefit the FGCU Campus Food Pantry (www.fgcu.edu/foodpantry) and the Harry Chapin Food Bank (www.harrychapinfoodbank.org), FGCU Athletics' charities of choice. For more information, including how to make a contribution, please visit www.fgcu.edu/foodpantry and utilize the hashtag FeedFGCU to help