HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. – Behind a .402 attack percentage, FGCU volleyball defeated Hartford 3-0 Friday, Sept. 11 to begin the Hofstra/Asics Invitational. The match marked the second time this season FGCU finished with an attack percentage above .400 and was also the fourth-highest in the Atlantic Sun for a three-set match. FGCU recorded a .464 attack percentage earlier in the season against Fordham which stands as the highest in the A-Sun. FGCU moved to 5-2 in 2015 while Hartford fell to 0-8.

"I was very happy with our focus today," said head coach Matt Botsford. "To hit over .400 for a match is always impressive and a good indication Maggie [Rick] was putting her hitters in good positions. It was also nice to see Kaitlan Krivdo (Hope Mills, N.C./Grays Creek High School) get her first collegiate appearance. She's been improving rapidly in practice so it was good to get her in a game situation."

Senior Eleonora Kazarian (Tibilisi, Georgia/College of Central Florida) paced FGCU with 10 kills in the match as seven different Eagles recorded a kill. Kazarian also added three blocks and was joined by Marlene Moeller (Lüdinghausen, Germany/Pascal Gymnasium) and Elisa Anne Aldrich (Charleston, S.C./Wando High School), who also finished with three blocks. Freshman Maggie Rick (Alpharetta, Ga./Blessed Trinity Catholic High School) collected 31 assists in the match win for the Eagles.

The Green and Blue came out firing, finishing the first set with a .429 attack percentage on the way to a 25-8 first set victory. After pulling ahead midway through the second set, the Eagles fought off a late rally from the Hawks, taking the second set 25-20. Hartford continued to put pressure on FGCU as the match entered the third set, but the Eagles pulled away late, taking the set 25-21 and the match 3-0.

FGCU trailed 2-3 early in the first set, before taking a 6-3 advantage moments later on consecutive blocks from Moeller and Kazarian. The Eagle's advantage would increase to 12-6 on an attack error by Hartford, which sparked an 8-1 run by FGCU. Following an attack error on FGCU, Leigh Pudwill (Lino Lakes, Minn./Centennial High School/Northern Iowa), Kazarian and Lauren Tutwiler (Louisville, Ky./Assumption High School) recorded kills to put the Eagles in front 20-7. The Hawks would collect one more point in the set as the Eagles held Hartford to a -.240 attacking percentage in the set. The Eagles meanwhile finished the set with three kills, a Pudwill ace and a solo block from Amanda Carroll (Albuquerque, N.M./Sandia High School) to take the 25-8 set win. Carroll and Kazarian led the Eagles offensively with four and three kills, respectively.

FGCU would take another early lead, taking advantage of multiple Hartford errors. Leading 9-7, Pudwill sparked a 6-1 run by FGCU, pushing the lead to 15-8. Vanessa Benke's (Toledo, Brazil/College of Central Florida) service ace forced Hartford to take a timeout with the Eagles leading 18-11 and the lead would continue to grow to 20-12 on a service error by Hartford. The Hawks would mount a comeback late in the set, getting to within 23-20, but FGCU finished off the set thanks a service error and a Tutwiler kill. The Eagles finished the set hitting .357, led by three kills each from Kazarian, Tutwiler and Pudwill.

FGCU and Hartford traded points in the third set resulting in 10 tie scores and four lead changes. The Eagles jumped in front 4-0 early in the set but the Hawks responded with five-consecutive points of their own. Neither side trailed by more than two until Karissa Rhoades (Valrico, Fla./Bloomingdale Senior High School) put FGCU in front 19-16. Rick recorded a kill to keep the Eagles in control at 21-17 and Moeller followed to make the score 22-18. Mackenzie Allen (Naples, Fla./Gulf Coast High School) recorded her team-best fourth kill of the set and joined Aldrich on a block to give FGCU match point at 24-18 before Aldrich and Rick assisted on the block to give the Green and Blue the 25-18 set win. Kazarian also added four kills in the set, while Aldrich recorded all three of her blocks in the final stanza. As a team, FGCU ended the set hitting .424 and held Hartford to a .138 hitting percentage.

UP NEXT

Play continues at the Hofstra/Asics Invitational as the Eagles take on Princeton and Hofstra on Saturday, Sept. 12. The Eagles and Tigers begin the day with a match at 10 a.m. before ending the weekend against the host Pride at 12:30 p.m.

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 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.