SPARTANBURG, S.C. – With a first round bye in the 2015 Atlantic Sun Championships within reach, FGCU volleyball swept USC Upstate 3-0 (25-16, 25-20, 25-19) Friday (Nov. 6) to move one step closer to that goal. FGCU needed a pair of wins and a loss from both Jacksonville and Kennesaw State this weekend to secure a bye in the first round. The Green and Blue recorded seven service aces, four in the final set, to reach the 20-win mark for the first time since 2012 and the fourth time in the Division I era. FGCU is now 20-8 in 2015 and 9-2 in the Atlantic Sun. Meanwhile USC Upstate fell to 14-13 overall and 2-9 in conference play.

Karissa Rhoades (Valrico, Fla./Bloomingdale Senior High School) was responsible for five of the seven aces for FGCU in the match, the most for an individual since 2011 and the sixth-best three set total in program history. The freshman also added five kills and nine digs. Amanda Carroll (Albuquerque, N.M./Sandia High School) led the offense with 16 kills while Leigh Pudwill (Lino Lakes, Minn./Centennial High School/Northern Iowa) and Lauren Tutwiler (Louisville, Ky./Assumption High School) both ended the match hitting better than .400. Pudwill finished the evening with 10 kills, hitting at a .471 clip and Tutwiler had only one attempt denied, ending the match with seven kills and an .875 hitting percentage. Maggie Rick (Alpharetta, Ga./Blessed Trinity Catholic High School) distributed 38 assists to guide the Eagles to a .239 attack percentage and Vanessa Benke (Toledo, Brazil/College of Central Florida) paced the Eagles with 19 digs, anchoring a defense that limited the Spartans to a .093 attack percentage in the match.

"It was another great defensive match from a team perspective," said head coach Matt Botsford. "I was also very pleased with the service pressure we applied throughout the match. Offensively, I've liked what I've seen from Leigh [Pudwill] the last few matches and I thought Maggie [Rick] used her very well tonight which will continue to open things up in our offense. Lauren's [Tutwiler] consistency over the last month has been a big key to our success and she had another great match tonight both offensively and defensively."

FGCU set the tone early, outhitting Upstate .256 to .029 en route to a 25-16 win to open the match. The Eagles then built an early lead in the second set and held on to a 25-20 second set victory. FGCU trailed 12-10 in the third set, but Rhoades sparked the Eagles to a 25-19 win to complete the sweep.

After claiming five of the first six points, FGCU saw its lead grow to 10-6 only for Upstate to come back to not only tie the set, but take an 11-10 advantage however kills from Rick and Tutwiler quickly put the Eagles back in front. The Green and Blue later added to their lead with a block from Rick and Tutwiler and a Pudwill kill to go in front 17-13. Another kill from Pudwill edged the visitors closer to victory, allowing Carroll to finish off the set with three kills in the final moments to give FGCU a 25-16 first set win. Carroll finished the set with five kills while Pudwill finished the opening game with four kills. Rick dished out 15 assists, running an offense that hit .256 to open the match. Tutwiler was involved on three blocks, pacing an Eagle defense that limited the Spartans to a .029 hitting percentage.

The Eagles built an early 9-5 advantage as they searched for a commanding 2-0 lead in the match. Rhoades and Tutwiler continued the strong offensive performance helping FGCU to a 12-8 lead. Tutwiler then started a 4-0 run for the visitors, increasing the lead to 16-9. FGCU remained in front by seven following a Marlene Moeller (Lüdinghausen, Germany/Pascal Gymnasium) kill to push the score to 20-13 before Upstate made a push late in the set. The home side cut the lead to 20-16, but kills from Carroll, Rhoades and Pudwill sent FGCU into the locker room with a 2-0 lead in the match thanks to a 25-20 second set win.

The Green and Blue trailed 12-10 in the third set when Pudwill gave FGCU side out and sent Rhoades to the service line. The freshman immediately recorded three straight service aces, turning a 12-11 deficit into a 14-12 lead for the Eagles. Upstate however would keep the game close until Carroll recorded a kill and then an ace of her own, putting FGCU ahead 19-16. Elisa Anne Aldrich (Charleston, S.C./Wando High School) followed with a kill, setting up kills from Carroll and Tutwiler which gave the Eagles match point at 24-19. FGCU used a solo block from Pudwill to end the set 25-19 and take the match 3-0.

UP NEXT

FGCU plays its final road match of the season Saturday, Nov. 7 against Kennesaw State. The match is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. and with a win, the Eagles would secure a first round bye in the 2015 Atlantic Sun Championships.

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 39-19 (.672) record, including a 20-5 (.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.