NASHVILLE, Tenn. – FGCU volleyball begins its journey for its first Atlantic Sun Tournament title and NCAA Division I Tournament berth Friday (Nov. 20) against either Kennesaw State or Stetson.  The Eagles make their fifth A-Sun Tournament appearance and look to make it back to the finals for the first time since 2009.

Live stats will be available through Lipscomb's website and the tournament will be streamed live on ESPN3 and WatchESPN. The match between FGCU and either Kennesaw or Stetson is scheduled for Friday at 7:30 p.m. local time.

THE GREEN AND BLUE

The Eagles finished the season 21-10 and 10-4 in the Atlantic Sun, securing the No. 2 seed on the last day of the regular season with a 3-0 win over NJIT. FGCU is led by the A-Sun's Freshman of the Year Amanda Carroll (Albuquerque, N.M./Sandia High School) along with four additional All-Conference selections.  Vanessa Benke (Toledo, Brazil/College of Central Florida), Eleonora Kazarian (Tibilisi, Georgia/College of Central Florida), Maggie Rick (Alpharetta, Ga./Blessed Trinity Catholic High School) and Lauren Tutwiler (Louisville, Ky./Assumption High School) joined Carroll on the A-Sun's Second Team while Carroll and Rick were also All-Freshmen Team selections.

Carroll leads the team with 393 kills, averaging 3.36 kills per set. The freshman is aided by Kazarian and Leigh Pudwill (Lino Lakes, Minn./Centennial High School/Northern Iowa) who both have supplied more than 230 kills in 2015. Rick eclipsed 1000 assists in her first season as an Eagle. Currently with 1154 this season, Rick has helped the Eagles to a .222 hitting percentage in 2015.

Defensively, the Eagles look to Benke and Tutwiler to lead the way. Benke's 531 digs is the second-best single season performance in FGCU history after switching from outside hitter in the offseason. Meanwhile Tutwiler's 90 blocks puts her near the top of the A-Sun after playing in only 87 sets. Kazarian has also had a solid defensive season, recording 81 blocks while Marlene Moeller (Lüdinghausen, Germany/Pascal Gymnasium) adds 78 blocks.  

TOURNAMENT HISTORY

FGCU makes its fifth tournament appearance in six seasons. The Eagles are searching for their first championship appearance since 2009 but must first improve upon a 1-4 record in the semifinals. FGCU's last semifinal win came in 2009, a 3-0 win over Jacksonville.

When FGCU is the higher seed, the Eagles hold a 3-2 record. Last season, FGCU was the No. 2 seed when it met No. 3 Jacksonville. The Dolphins defeated the Eagles 3-1 in Fort Myers, the most recent tournament result for the Green and Blue.

Should FGCU make it into the finals and face top-seeded Lipscomb, FGCU is 1-4 record as the lower seed. The only win came against Jacksonville in 2009 to put the Eagles into the finals.

FGCU has made the semifinals in every A-Sun Championships appearance.

KENNESAW STATE

Kennesaw State enters the tournament with a 17-8 record and a 9-5 conference mark to earn the No. 3 seed. Anaiah Boyer and Sydni Shelton both took home A-Sun honors after leading the Owls with more than 270 kills each. As the only two players on the Owl roster with more than 200 kills, Kennesaw also looks to Kelly Marcinek to add depth to the attack, adding 152 kills this season. Kristi Piedimonte ended the season with 872 assists while helping the Owls hit .225 this season. The setter also recorded 59 kills and tallied 197 digs in 2015.

Rachel Taylor is the focal point along the net for the Owls. Taylor's 74 blocks leads the way for Kennesaw State, but the Owls also lean on Leisl Engelbrech, who finished the season with 61 blocks. While Katarina Morton led the Owls with 367 digs, KSU features five other players who recorded 100 digs or more on the season.

Kennesaw State's Keith Schunzel was also named the A-Sun's Coach of the Year following a record-breaking season for the Owls.

The Eagles and Owls each grabbed a win in 2015 with the home side holding court in both matches. FGCU maintains an 11-4 record against the Owls all-time but should the two meet in the semifinals, it would be the first post season meeting between the two programs.
 
STETSON

At 11-17 overall and 5-9 in the A-Sun, the Hatters enter the tournament as the No. 6 seed. Haley Tippett was the lone representative for Stetson when the postseason awards were announced, earning a spot on the All-Freshman Team. Tippett concluded her first season with a team-high 301 kills as well as 33 blocks and 265 digs. While Tippett has shouldered most of the offensive load, Madison Akins and McKenna Foster each posted more than 230 kills over the course of the season. Kayla Weller runs the offense, posting 927 assists this season.

Defensively, the Hatters have held opponents to a .198 hitting percentage thanks to 110 blocks from Madison Fitzsimmons and 85 more from Shelby Connors. Akins also pitches in along the net with 65 blocks. Should an attack get past Fitzsimmons and company, four Hatters surpassed 200 digs on the year, led by Michelle Kastner's 294.

FGCU is 15-2 all-time against Stetson after sweeping the season series. Unlike Kennesaw State however, the Eagles and Hatters have met previously in the A-Sun Championships. In 2013, the Eagles defeated Stetson 3-2 to move into the semifinals.  

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 40-21 (.655) record, including a 21-7 (.750) 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 has also coached 10 All-Conference selections in just two seasons at FGCU. 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.