JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – FGCU volleyball increased its lead over UNF in the Atlantic Sun standings with a 3-1 (26-24, 25-15, 18-25, 25-23) win over the Ospreys Friday (Oct. 16). With the win, the Eagles improved to 15-7 overall and 5-1 in the A-Sun, creating a two-game gap between themselves and the Ospreys. UNF meanwhile falls to 15-7 in 2015 and 3-3 in conference action.

"This is an important weekend for us as we prepare for the second half of the conference schedule," said head coach Matt Botsford. "There were a lot of really good things out there tonight, especially how we played defensively. The way the match unfolded showed we can win a match in a variety of ways. This helps us build trust within the team so if one phase of the game isn't there, we can still get the job done."

Eleonora Kazarian (Tibilisi, Georgia/College of Central Florida) had her best offensive performance since Sept. 25. The senior led the way for FGCU with 16 kills and added seven blocks, her second-highest total of the season. Marlene Moeller (Lüdinghausen, Germany/Pascal Gymnasium) and Leigh Pudwill (Lino Lakes, Minn./Centennial High School/Northern Iowa) each picked up nine kills while Amanda Carroll (Albuquerque, N.M./Sandia High School) added eight kills. Moeller also recorded six blocks in the win. With 40 assists and 10 digs, Maggie Rick (Alpharetta, Ga./Blessed Trinity Catholic High School) earned her second-straight double-double and her third of the season. Vanessa Benke (Toledo, Brazil/College of Central Florida) paced the Eagles floor defense with 22 digs.

The Eagles fought off multiple come backs to claim the first set 26-24 and then used a strong defense, holding the Ospreys to a -.077 hitting percentage in the second set, to win 25-15 and take a 2-0 lead into the intermission. After the break, UNF picked up the offense and forced a fourth set with a 25-18 win. The Eagles led for nearly the entire fourth set, defeating the Ospreys 25-23 in the set and 3-1 in the match.

FGCU led for the majority of the first set but were forced into extra points by the home side. The Eagles used kills from Kazarian, Moeller and Carroll along with aces from Moeller and Caroline Jordan (Orlando, Fla./William R Boone High School) to take an early 10-4 advantage. The visitors would have to fend off multiple come back attempts from the Ospreys, including a 4-1 run to bring the opening stanza to 13-11. After consecutive kills from Kazarian and Moeller, the two went up for a block to move the score to 16-11 and force UNF to call a timeout. Leading 20-13, UNF used a 5-0 run to cut into the Eagle lead. The set would later be tied at 23 when Lauren Tutwiler (Louisville, Ky./Assumption High School) gave FGCU its first chance to close out the set with her first kill. The Ospreys tied the set at 24, only for Pudwill to give FGCU side out and another chance to end the set. The Eagles made the most of it, closing out the set with a block from Moeller and Kazarian. The duo also led the way offensively, combining for nine kills in the first set while Rick dished out 12 assists.

The defense paved the way for the Green and Blue in the second set, holding the Ospreys to a -.077 hitting percentage. As the second set got underway, FGCU's net defense set the tone as Tutwiler and Kazarian earned the Eagles first point with a block. Pudwill earned a solo block moments later and following a Kazarian kill, UNF called its first timeout with the Eagles leading 6-1. Pudwill added back-to-back kills following the timeout and FGCU's lead continued to grow with a block from Moeller and Rick as well as an ace from Kazarian. The Ospreys called their second timeout trailing 14-6 but the Eagles did not slow down. Moeller immediately recorded a kill to make it 15-6 and then another to make it 19-8 in favor of the visitors. The German's third kill of the set gave FGCU a 24-14 advantage and the Eagles would go on to win 25-15 in the second set. Kazarian, Pudwill and Moeller gathered three kills in the set and six Eagles recorded either a solo block or a block assist.

Out of the break, the Ospreys opened up the third set with a 7-3 lead. Kills by Tutwiler and Carroll kept the Eagles in the set early, but the home side pulled away with a 4-0 run to push FGCU's deficit to 14-8. After a timeout, Kazarian looked to spark a run for the Eagles with a kill, only for the Ospreys to respond, earn side out and begin another run. The Green and Blue gained some momentum with a kill from Kazarian and two blocks from Moeller and Kazarian but dropped the third set 25-18. Kazarian led the offensive efforts for the Green and Blue in the third set with six kills.

FGCU took command of the fourth set, taking a 6-0 lead capped by a solo block from Pudwill and another block from Tutwiler and Kazarian. A kill from Pudwill began a stretch of three straight points from the junior. Following her kill, Pudwill recorded consecutive aces to increase the lead to 12-5. The Ospreys chipped into the lead, before ultimately tying the set at 18. After a timeout by FGCU, Pudwill and Moeller gave the visitors a two-point lead, forcing UNF to call timeout. Pudwill added an ace, her third of the set, to push the Eagles closer to match point. Three kills from Carroll ended the set, giving FGCU the 25-23 set win and 3-1 match win.

UP NEXT
The Eagles remain on the road with a match against Jacksonville Saturday (Oct. 17) at 5 p.m. The Dolphins also won Friday, maintaining their spot in third place in the A-Sun with a 4-2 record in conference play.
 
FOLLOW ALONG
 
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 34-18 (.654) record, including a 16-4 (.800) 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.
 
SUPPORT THE CAUSE
 
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.