BOCA RATON, Fla. – Despite taking three matches to a third set, the FGCU sand volleyball team fell at FAU Tuesday afternoon by a score of 5-0. The Eagles fall to 0-5 on the season, while FAU moves to 4-4 with the midweek win.
 
The Eagles saw three of five matches to go a decisive third set, but were unable to earn the win at any position.
 
"We had three really competitive matches today and I'm happy that we have put ourselves in a position to compete," said head coach Matt Botsford after the match. "I'm pleased with the progress of our pairs, especially Whitney [Masters] and Ella [Kazarian]. FAU played well today but I'm satisfied with the level of play in all the matches and the caliber of competition we're creating. We need to start earning the important points, but we are getting closer."
 
At the No. 1 position, Whitney Masters (Muncie, Ind./Wapahani High School) and Eleonora Kazarian (Tibilisi, Georgia/College of Central Florida)  fell 21-10 in the first set before challenging the FAU no. 1 pair with a 21-17 win in the second set. In the deciding round, Masters and Kazarian took FAU to extra points but ultimately fell 19-17 to drop the match by a score of 2-1.
 
The no. 5 pair of Olivia Mesner (Boca Raton, Fla./Spanish River High School) and Madi Wilcox (Mundelein, Ill./Mundelein High School) entered Tuesday's matchup with a 4-0 record on the season and battled hard to maintain the unblemished record. Mesner and Wilcox fell 21-11 in the first set but fought to extra points in set two to even the match. The duo was edged in set three, 15-11 and fell to 4-1 on the season.
 
"Olivia and Madi continue to be our most consistent pair," noted Botsford. "They were pushed hard today but battled through a third set."
 
Sydney Ferguson (Fort Myers, Fla./Evangelical Christian School) and Katie Gutmann (Coconut Creek, Fla./Monarch High School) also went a third set in Tuesday's road tilt at the no. 4 pair. The FGCU duo won the first set 21-17 but fell 21-13 to even the match. In the third set, FAU came out firing and earned a 15-6 win to seal a 2-1 match victory and lead the Owls to the overall win.
 
"Sydney and Katie have made strong progress in the last week with several three-set matches," Botsford added. "They are getting closer to the success we are looking for."
 
The team will continue Atlantic Sun Conference action this weekend with a trip to Macon, Ga. The Eagles will take on the University of North Florida and Mercer University with a match against each on Friday, Mar. 27 and Saturday, Mar. 28.
 
 
COMPLETE RESULTS
1. Shoaff/McIntosh (FAU) def. Masters/Kazarian (FGCU) 21-10, 17-21, 19-17
2. Tekavec/Dischler (FAU) def. Moeller/Glickert (FGCU) 21-11, 21-18
3. Clesen/Warren (FAU) def. Allen/Jordan (FGCU) 21-15, 21-16
4. Galinis/Pellitteri (FAU) def. Ferguson/Gutmann (FGCU) 17-21, 21-13, 15-6
5. Rhein/Pyle (FAU) def. Mesner/Wilcox (FGCU) 21-11, 20-22, 15-11

 
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.