MIAMI, Fla. – FGCU volleyball recovered from a rough second set, to take the final two sets of a 3-1 (25-23, 11-25, 25-21, 25-22) victory over FIU Tuesday (Oct. 6). The Eagles improved to 11-7 with the win over the Panthers. FIU dropped to 10-7.
In a performance described as resilient by head coach
Matt Botsford, the Eagles saw nine players record a kill in the win led by 15 from
Amanda Carroll (Albuquerque, N.M./Sandia High School). The freshman also posted 10 digs in the win for her eighth double-double of the season.
Eleonora Kazarian (Tibilisi, Georgia/College of Central Florida) added nine kills and two blocks, while
Lauren Tutwiler (Louisville, Ky./Assumption High School) and
Leigh Pudwill (Lino Lakes, Minn./Centennial High School/Northern Iowa) posted seven and six kills, respectively. Defensively,
Marlene Moeller (Lüdinghausen, Germany/Pascal Gymnasium) led the Green and Blue with four blocks. The junior also tacked on five kills.
"We had to find some answers in the second set but we decided to stick with the original line up and they were able to work their way through things, which is what we've been focusing on," Botsford said. "It wasn't a very clean match which is something we've been pretty good at. Our efficiency numbers were not what they normally are so we did have to play with a bit more grit. There is value in learning how to win that way."
The Eagles took its first lead of the first set at 24-23 after trailing throughout the set to post a 25-23 win to open the night. FIU though came back to even the match with a 25-11 win in the second set. The Eagles strongest offensive performance of the night powered the visitors to a 25-21 win in the third set before the Green and Blue ended the match with a 25-22 fourth set win.
FGCU trailed for the majority of the first set against FIU falling behind 3-1 early in the opening stanza. The Eagles ability to keep the match close paid off, utilizing a strong defensive effort to limit any long runs from the hosts. Trailing 10-7, an error and a block from Kazarian and Tutwiler gave the Eagles an opportunity to tie the set on their next serve. The Panthers pushed their lead back to 13-10 when Tutwiler and
Maggie Rick (Alpharetta, Ga./Blessed Trinity Catholic High School) picked up kills to tie the set at 14 moments later. FIU regained its advantage and extended it to 21-18 only for the Eagles to respond with kills from Kazarian and
Mackenzie Allen (Naples, Fla./Gulf Coast High School) to again tie the set. FGCU took its first lead at 24-23 on a Moeller kill and won the set on a Panther error, claiming a 25-23 victory. FGCU held the Panthers to a -.027 hitting percentage in the opening set, led by eight digs from
Vanessa Benke (Toledo, Brazil/College of Central Florida). Seven Eagles gathered kills, paced by Tutwiler's three kills.
With both sides looking to gain an offensive advantage in the second set, it was the Panthers that made the first move jumping out to a 10-4 lead resulting in an FGCU timeout. The run stopped briefly as
Karissa Rhoades (Valrico, Fla./Bloomingdale Senior High School) picked up her first kill of the match but the hosts earned side out to prevent any further response from the Eagles. FIU would go on to win the set 25-11.
It was the Eagles offense that made a statement in the third set. The Green and Blue used five kills from Carroll to take an 11-6 lead. FIU bounced back, decreasing the FGCU lead to 14-11. Kazarian ended the FIU run and Carroll continued her strong performance in the third set, pushing the lead to 20-16. Pudwill then gave FGCU a 21-17 lead as the Eagles looked to close out the third set. FGCU saw its lead close to 22-20 but a pair of Tutwiler kills and a Carroll kill gave FGCU the 25-21 set three win. Carroll recorded nine kills in the set, leading the Eagles offensively. As a team, FGCU hit .389.
The fourth set began in a similar manner to the first as FIU led but FGCU remained close during the early stages. The Eagles trailed 6-2 and 11-7 in the fourth set until a Rick kill, two Panther errors and a block from Pudwill and Tutwiler tied the set at 11. FGCU took the lead on an attack error and increased it on a block by Kazarian and Moeller. The lead proved to be the final lead change of the set and match as Allen, Moeller and Pudwill recorded kills, bringing the lead to 20-16. The Eagles ended the match on a block from Carroll and Moeller and a kill from Carroll, taking the set 25-22.
UP NEXTThe Eagles return to Alico Arena with a pair of A-Sun contests. The Eagles begin the weekend with a 6 p.m. match against Kennesaw State Friday, Oct. 9. The weekend concludes against USC Upstate Saturday, Oct. 10 at 7 p.m.
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 30-18 (.625) record, including a 13-4 (.764) 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.
