FORT MYERS, Fla. – FGCU volleyball remains at home for two Atlantic Sun contests this weekend. The first place Eagles begin the weekend with a Friday (Oct. 30) matchup against UNF at 7 p.m. Then on Halloween, FGCU meets Jacksonville at 6 p.m. Just two weeks ago, the Eagles traveled to Jacksonville, ahead of both the Ospreys and Dolphins by one game for second place in the A-Sun standings and left in a tie for first after two crucial road victories.

With a win against either UNF or Jacksonville, the Eagles can clinch a spot in the 2015 A-Sun Volleyball Championships. This season's championships will be hosted by Lipscomb beginning Nov. 19.

Tickets are available for both contests and can be purchased by calling the FGCU Ticket Office at 239-590-7145 or by visiting FGCUAthletics.com/Tickets. Saturday is also Youth Night at Alico Arena. All children 12 and under wearing green or blue will receive free admission with a paid adult. For fans unable to make it to Alico, a free video stream as well as live stats will be available for both matches.

UNF

The Ospreys defeated Florida A&M Wednesday 3-0, ending a three-match losing skid and improving to 17-8 in 2015. UNF however is 3-5 in conference play and currently tied for fifth entering the weekend. Tessa Alyman and Carina Hoff headline the Osprey offense, each eclipsing 200 kills this season led by Alyman's 260 kills. UNF features two capable setters but rely mostly on Abby Fesl to run the offense. Fesl has compiled nearly 700 assists, while Carinne Turner has chipped in 330 assists.

On the defensive end, Morgan Van Alstine is the prominent leader along the net. Van Alstine's 83 blocks this season leads the team and she is helped along the net by Erin Edwards' 69 blocks. Kimberly Ferguson is one of six Ospreys with more than 100 digs. Edwards has dug out a team-best 382 attacks this season.

With FGCU's 3-1 win earlier this season, the Eagles are now 17-4 against the Ospreys all-time.

JACKSONVILLE

The Dolphins begin the weekend with a match against the Stetson Hatters Friday before continuing on to Fort Myers. The last time these two teams met, the Eagles and Dolphins went the maximum five sets before FGCU prevailed 21-19 in the final stanza. Emily Laskelle not only leads JU with 352 kills, but also leads the conference and sits 23rd nationally with 4.29 kills per set. Jizzyan Gesualdo has dished out 788 assists for the Dolphins offensively, including 52 against the Eagles in the first meeting of the season.

Ana Nieto-Gomez and Olga Nushtayeva are the focal points of Jacksonville's net defense. Nieto-Gomez leads the way with 61 total blocks this season, followed closely by Nushtayeva's 56 blocks and Laskelle's 45 blocks. Leading the Jacksonville floor defense is Mayara Prestes. The senior has compiled 403 digs for the Dolphins, good for second in the conference behind Benke.

With the 3-2 win in Jacksonville, FGCU holds a slight edge over JU in the all-time series. The Eagles now lead 10-9 and look to avenge last season's regular season finale loss to Jacksonville.

THE GREEN AND BLUE

FGCU remains in a tie for first place in the A-Sun with Lipscomb. Both the Eagles and Bisons carry 7-1 records into the weekend, while FGCU maintains the best overall mark in the conference at 18-7. In addition, FGCU sits in the top 10 percent of the nation with its 18 wins.

The Eagles won their eighth consecutive match last week with a 3-1 win over Stetson. The Green and Blue dropped the first set 25-19, but claimed the next three (25-20, 25-21, 25-18) to record the program's fifth-longest winning streak since 2007. Amanda Carroll (Albuquerque, N.M./Sandia High School) and Eleonora Kazarian (Tibilisi, Georgia/College of Central Florida) continued to lead the Eagles offensively, as both exceeded ten kills for the third time in four matches. Maggie Rick (Alpharetta, Ga./Blessed Trinity Catholic High School) supplied 39 assists in the win, while also posting 12 digs and two service aces. FGCU finished the match with six aces.

YOUTH MOVEMENT

Rick and Carroll have proven to be two of the best freshmen not only in the A-Sun, but also in the nation at their respective positions. Rick began the week 34th in total assists with 908, but second among freshmen in the category trailing only Sarah Bell of Southern Mississippi. Carroll meanwhile is top 15 nationally among freshmen in kills per set, total kills and points. The New Mexico native is positioned 13th in kills per set (3.38), seventh in total kills (314) and sixth in points (368.5).

RPI TOP 100

FGCU continued to climb up the RPI top 100, moving two spots to No. 85. Lipscomb meanwhile jumped to No. 74, leading all A-Sun programs. The Eagles and Bisons remain the only two A-Sun members in the top 100, with Kennesaw State at No. 114 and Jacksonville at No. 137.

UP NEXT

FGCU concludes its road schedule with contests against USC Upstate and Kennesaw State. The final road trip of the regular season begins with a Nov. 6 match at Upstate followed by a Nov. 7 trip to Kennesaw State.

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 37-18 (.673) record, including an 18-4 (.818) 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.