FORT MYERS, Fla. – FGCU volleyball defeated Fordham and Presbyterian to close the 2015 Hilton Garden Inn/Homewood Suites Classic 3-0 on Saturday, Aug. 29. Both victories came in straight sets as senior Eleonora Kazarian and freshman Amanda Carroll were named to the All-Tournament Team. Kazarian was named the tournament's MVP. Fordham closed out the weekend 0-3 while Presbyterian went 1-2 during the tournament. New Orleans finished 2-1.

The Eagles utilized a strong offense, hitting .464 against the Rams and defeating Fordham in three sets (25-17, 25-16, 25-13). FGCU committed just one error through the first two sets, hitting above .570 in each set. The Green and Blue never trailed in the final set to close out the match. Kazarian (Tibilisi, Georgia/College of Central Florida) and Carroll (Albuquerque, N.M./Sandia High School) led the Eagles offensively with 15 and 14 kills respectively. Freshman Maggie Rick (Alpharetta, Ga./Blessed Trinity Catholic High School) and junior Marina Adami (Caxias Do Sul, Brazil/College of Central Florida) both recorded double-digit assists. Freshman Elisa Anne Aldrich (Charleston, S.C./Wando High School) posted five blocks.

"Offensively we played at a really high level," said head coach Matt Botsford. "We only had one attacking error in the first two sets which is pretty unusual. Even in the third set we did a really good job replacing our setters and getting a different look. I thought our defense in the third set was what we were looking for from the beginning. We didn't quite have it in the first two sets but that's what we talked about during the break."

FGCU made quick work of Presbyterian in the first set (25-14) of the second match but were forced to rally from behind in the second stanza, winning 26-24. The Blue Hose and the Eagles saw 11 tie scores and four lead changes in the third set, including 19-19, before FGCU recorded six of the final eight points to come away with a 25-21 set win and the match victory. Carroll posted double-digit kills for the third consecutive match but it was the defense that allowed FGCU to secure the win. The Eagles held the Blue Hose to attack percentages of .000, .069 and .184 during the match, posting 15 blocks. Aldrick and Kazarian each recorded four blocks to lead the Eagles.

Fordham

FGCU and Fordham saw a total of three ties and two lead changes throughout the entirety of the match. Two of the three ties and both lead changes occurred within the first  five points of the first set as the Eagles and Rams exchanged points until FGCU took a 3-2 lead and would never look back. Carroll put the Eagles in front 3-2 and multiple Ram errors increased the Eagle lead to 6-3. It was Carroll again that increased the lead to 7-4 before an ace from the freshman made it 9-5. Rick took advantage of some space in the Rams defense and tipped the ball over the net for a kill to make it 11-7 Eagles. Following an error by the Rams, junior Leigh Pudwill (Lino Lakes, Minn./Centennial High School/Northern Iowa) recorded back-to-back kills pushing the advantage to 17-11. Kazarian and Carroll then took over, recording three of the final five points for FGCU in the 25-17 set win. The Green and Blue did not record a single attacking error in the set, finishing with a .577 hitting percentage.

After an early tie in the set at 3-3, four consecutive points pushed the Eagles ahead 7-3. The Rams would close to 9-5 but three Mackenzie Allen (Naples, Fla./Gulf Coast High School) kills and a Kazarian kill stopped the momentum and gave FGCU a 13-6 lead. The Rams would again inch closer, decreasing the advantage to 19-14. However an Allen kill and a Caroline Jordan (Orlando, Fla./William R Boone High School) ace put the Green and Blue back in control as Carroll would finish off the match with an ace of her own to make the final score 25-16.

The third set was all FGCU as the Eagles jumped out to an 8-2 lead. Following an attack error, FGCU increased its lead to 12-3 behind two Carroll kills. A pair of Kazarian kills pushed the score to 19-10. Three attack errors and kills from Allen and Kazarian finished off the Rams as FGCU won the third set 25-13. FGCU's defense stifled Fordham, holding the Rams to a -.136 hitting percentage.

Presbyterian

Searching for a clean sweep to open the 2015 season, the Eagles needed to fight off the Blue Hose to come away with a 3-0 match victory. The first set was dominated by FGCU, leading to an early 8-2 lead. FGCU capitalized on multiple Presbyterian errors throughout the set, forcing the Blue Hose to use its second timeout of the set with FGCU leading 19-10. Pudwill contributed four kills, with her latest making the score 24-14 Eagles, which was followed a block from Aldrich and Kazarian giving FGCU a 25-14 set victory. The Eagle defense set the tone, recording three team blocks and forcing the Blue Hose to an attack percentage of .000. Meanwhile the Eagles left set one hitting .310.

Presbyterian gave the Eagles their biggest test of the early season in the second set, going in front 9-4 at one point in the match. FGCU did not take the lead until a Blue Hose attack error put the Eagles on top 17-16. Kazarian gave FGCU a brief advantage at 20-18, only for Presbyterian to tie the set at 22-22. The Blue Hose had set point at 24-23, forcing an FGCU timeout. Out of the timeout, Carroll recorded the next two Eagles points, giving FGCU set point. Rick and Marlene Moeller sent the Eagles into the locker room with a 26-24 set win with a block.

The third stanza saw 11 ties and four lead changes as neither team was able to go in front by more than two points until the very late stages of the set. Trailing 13-11, a service error sparked the Eagles momentarily, allowing them to tie the set on a Carroll kill. After both teams exchanged points, FGCU took the lead 16-15 on a Carroll ace but the Blue Hose responded, tying the set at 19-19 and again at 20-20. Carroll and senior Vanessa Benke (Toledo, Brazil/College of Central Florida) pushed FGCU in front 23-20. It was Carroll again on the kill to give FGCU match point, followed by an attack error to seal the 25-21 set win and the 3-0 match victory.

All-Tournament Team
Eleonora Kazarian (MVP) – Florida Gulf Coast
Amanda Carroll – Florida Gulf Coast
Shaylene Reimer – New Orleans
Rondolyn Bryant – New Orleans
Ashtin Stewart – Presbyterian
Natalie Martinez – Fordham

UP NEXT

FGCU head north to Tampa for the USF Classic. Play begins on Sept. 4 against Missouri at 4:30 p.m. Action continues on Sept. 5 against the host Bulls at 1 p.m. before play wraps up against Arkansas State.
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COACH BOTSFORD
 
Head coach Matt Botsford 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, 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 raise awareness.