ESTERO, Fla. – The FGCU sand volleyball team faced tough competition in Jacksonville University Saturday, Mar. 21 at the Estero Community Park. Despite strong efforts in all five positions, the Eagles fell to 0-4 on the season with losses of 4-1 and 3-2 in the double header.
 
The no. 5 pair of Olivia Mesner (Boca Raton, Fla./Spanish River High School) and Madi Wilcox (Mundelein, Ill./Mundelein High School) maintained their undefeated status with two 2-0 wins over the Dolphins. Mesner and Wilcox outscored their opposition 21-13, 21-5 in the morning match and followed with a 21-7, 21-17 victory in their fourth match in two days. The pair moves to 4-0 on the season.
 
"I think the team played much more competitively today," said assistant coach Chris Sweat. "Jacksonville played great and we lost a couple of very close matches, but the progress is definitely there and they are continuing to get better each day."
 
In 10 matches through the day, the Eagles challenged JU to a third set four times.
 
At the no. 1 position, Whitney Masters (Muncie, Ind./Wapahani High School) and Eleonora Kazarian (Tibilisi, Georgia/College of Central Florida) took on the JU pair of Koop and Strausbaugh. Masters and Kazarian defeated JU 21-16 in the first set before falling 21-14 in set two. The team fell narrowly in the morning match with a 15-11 set three setback but again took Koop and Strausbaugh to a third set in the later match. JU took set one 21-15 but Masters and Kazarian battled to a 25-23 win in the second set. The Dolphins again edged FGCU in set three, 10-15, to earn both no. 1 wins.
 
In the no. 3 spot, Carolina Jordan (Orlando, Fla./William R. Boone High School) and Mackenzie Allen (Naples, Fla./Gulf Coast High School) picked up their first win of the season in the second match of the day. The duo fell 24-22, 21-13 to open the day but rebounded with a 21-13, 26-24 win over the same pair later in the day.  
 
Freshman Ashley Glickert (Chesterfield, Mo./Parkway Central High School) and sophomore Marlene Moeller (Ludinghausen, Germany/Pascal Gymnasium) also challenged JU to a third set in the no. 2 slot. The duo won 21-12 in the first set of the morning matchup but fell 21-18 and 15-8 in sets two and three.
 
The Eagles travel to Boca Raton Monday afternoon for a road tilt with FAU. The match against the Owls is slated for 4 p.m.
 
 
MATCH ONE: JU 4 FGCU 1
1. Koop/Strausbaugh (JU) def. Masters/Kazarian (FGCU) 16-21, 21-14, 15-11
2. Prestes/Laskelle (JU) def. Glickert/Moeller (FGCU) 12-21, 21-18, 15-8
3. Finan/Gesualdo (JU) def. Jordan/Allen (FGCU) 24-22, 21-13
4. Gresham/Swan (JU) def. Gutmann/Joslin (FGCU) 21-18, 21-17
5. Mesner/Wilcox (FGCU) def. Nushtayeva/Schickley (JU) 21-13, 21-5
 
MATCH TWO: JU 3 FGCU 2
1. Koop/Strausbaugh (JU) def. Masters/Kazarian (FGCU) 21-15, 23-25, 15-10
2. Prestes/Laskelle (JU) def. Glickert/Moeller (FGCU) 21-12, 21-13
3. Jordan/Allen (FGCU) def. Finan/Gesualdo (JU) 21-13, 26-24
4. Gresham/Swan (JU) def. Ferguson/Gutmann (FGCU) 20-22, 21-15, 15-12
5. Mesner/Wilcox (FGCU) def. Nushtayeva/Nieto (JU) 21-7, 21-17
 
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.
 
Head coach Matt concluded his first year at the helm of the FGCU volleyball program with a record of 19-11 with a second-place finish in Atlantic Sun Conference play. Botsford's team also had five players recognized as All-Conference winner to set a new program high. Prior to his time in Southwest Florida, Botsford held successful stints as an assistant at Notre Dame, Miami, IUIPI, 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.