HEMPSTEAD , NY – On the final day of the Hofstra/Asics Invitational, FGCU volleyball won its opener 3-1 over Princeton but dropped a five-set match to Hofstra to end the day Saturday, Sept. 12. The Eagles are now 6-3 on the year. Princeton fell to 1-4 while Hofstra is now 7-4.

The Eagles picked up their first four-set win of the year, defeating Princeton 3-1 in the early match. FGCU and Princeton were tied 16 times in the first set before the Eagles came away with a 29-27 win behind eight kills from Eleonora Kazarian (Tibilisi, Georgia/College of Central Florida). The Green and Blue trailed 15-6 in the second set and nearly came back but dropped set number two 21-25. With the matched tied at one set each, FGCU used its best offensive performance of the match to take the third set 25-17 behind six kills from both Kazarian and Amanda Carroll (Albuquerque, N.M./Sandia High School). FGCU would need to come from behind in order to seal the victory, turning a 17-12 deficit into a 25-22 victory in the fourth set. Mackenzie Allen (Naples, Fla./Gulf Coast High School) provided four kills for the Eagles off the bench including the final point of the match.

"We had to fight pretty hard in the first set against Princeton but we found a way to pull it out in overtime" said head coach Matt Botsford. "The biggest difference in the match was our blocking in the last two sets."  

After taking the first two sets against the host Pride, FGCU dropped three straight sets, falling 3-2 in five sets. The Eagles used six kills from Allen to come away with a 26-24 win to open their second match of the day. The offense took over in the second set as the Green and Blue hit. 357 as a team to go into the break with a 2-0 advantage. Hofstra though would come out and win the third set 25-19. In the fourth set, the Eagles used six blocks each from Kazarian and Elisa Anne Aldrich (Charleston, S.C./Wando High School) to battle back and ultimately earn match point at 24-23. Three consecutive Pride points gave the hosts a 26-24 win and force a decisive fifth set. In the final stanza, the Eagles jumped out to an early 3-0 lead only for Hofstra to respond after a timeout and take an 8-7 lead and ultimately take the set 15-9.

"It was a tough loss but I was really pleased with how we responded in a tough game four," Botsford said. "We dug ourselves a big hole but in the end we managed to create a match point opportunity in that set. It was a really good sign that we were able to fight back. Our offense was not quite as sharp as it has been which limited our options in the fifth set."

PRINCETON

The Eagles trailed only once as the Tigers prevented FGCU from gaining a sizable advantage in the first set, ultimately forcing the set to go to extra points. The Green and Blue took an early 11-8 lead which grew to 14-10 thanks to three Kazarian kills. Princeton responded, tying the set at 16-16. Caroline Jordan (Orlando, Fla./William R Boone High School) put FGCU back in front 20-17 with an ace, but the Tigers were able to tie the set at 20. The Eagles and Tigers exchanged points until Lauren Tutwiler (Louisville, Ky./Assumption High School) and Leigh Pudwill (Lino Lakes, Minn./Centennial High School/Northern Iowa) combined for the only block of the set, putting FGCU in front 28-27 and the set would end on a Princeton attack error, giving FGCU a 29-27 set win. Kazarian hit .538 individually with eight kills for FGCU, while the Eagles collectively hit .319 in the opening set. Marlene Moeller (Lüdinghausen, Germany/Pascal Gymnasium) added five kills.

FGCU trailed 15-6 in the second set before calling its second timeout of the set. Allen provided a kill immediately following the timeout, sparking a 9-2 run by FGCU. Allen and Rick were responsible for four of the nine points in that stretch and the Eagles were aided by four Tiger errors. Tutwiler recorded the final kill of the run to bring the Eagles to within 17-15. Princeton's lead grew to 22-19 before consecutive kills from Allen closed the gap to 22-21. The comeback would fall short as a pair of attack errors and a Tiger kill sent the teams into the break tied at one set apiece. Allen recorded five kills in the set.

The third set was tied at seven when the Eagles began to find a rhythm. Pudwill recorded a kill to give FGCU an 8-7 lead and was joined by Kazarian on a block to increase the lead to 9-7. A pair of Kazarian kills and an Allen ace pushed FGCU in front 13-9, forcing Princeton to call timeout. Kazarian and Carroll recorded three of the next four points as the lead grew to 17-12 in favor of FGCU. Pudwill ended a small run from Princeton, allowing Kazarian and Carroll to finish off the set with the final four kills to give the Eagles a 25-17 set three win. Both Kazarian and Carroll ended the set with six kills as the Eagles hit .389 as a unit.

The Eagles built on the momentum from the third set to take a 5-2 lead in the fourth set. Princeton would come back to tie the set at five and the two would exchange points until the set was tied at 10. The Tigers went on a 7-2 run forcing FGCU to call timeout trailing 17-12. Kazarian, Moeller and Carroll brought the Eagles back with kills before the Tigers responded, to bring the score to 19-15. Down 21-18, FGCU used an attack error, an Allen kill and a block from Kazarian and Aldrich to tie the set at 21. Allen finished the set with two more kills including the match's final point, giving the Eagles a 25-22 win in the fourth set.

Allen finished one kill shy of a double-double. The sophomore hit. 533 with nine kills and 15 digs in the win. Kazarian led the Eagles with 20 kills and added five blocks. Carroll and Pudwill also ended the match double-digit kills. Maggie Rick (Alpharetta, Ga./Blessed Trinity Catholic High School) collected 53 assists and two aces in the victory. With five blocks in the last set, Aldrich led Eagles with seven blocks.

HOFSTRA

The Pride took an early 3-0 lead in the first set but FGCU rallied to tie the set at five. The set would continue to remain close as the Pride and Eagles were tied at 11 moments later. After a service error put the Eagles on top 12-11, Rick followed with an ace and Allen forced Hofstra to take a timeout after her kill. The Pride would then go on a 7-2 run to move in front 18-16. The Eagles tied the set and regained the lead with the help of multiple errors from the Pride. Leading 23-21, Kazarian gave the Eagles set point with her fifth kill of the set. However, the Pride tied the set at 24. Allen and Aldrich finished off the first stanza for the Eagles, picking up the final two points. FGCU took set one 26-24, led by six kills from Allen.

It was Hofstra again that created separation in the second set, taking an 11-7 lead resulting in an FGCU timeout. Kazarian brought an end to the 4-0 Hofstra run and would pick up another kill to bring the Eagles to within 12-10. Kazarian, Moeller and Carroll all were credited with a block to tie the set at 12. Courtney Stephens (Winter Park, Fla./Winter Park High School) entered and immediately provided consecutive aces giving FGCU a 15-14 lead. Stephens' aces were part of a 6-0 run for the Eagles, paving the way for a 25-18 set win for the Green and Blue. FGCU hit .357 as a team and held the Pride to a .162 attack percentage.

The Eagles grabbed a 4-1 lead in the third set only for Hofstra to tie following an early timeout. Hofstra went in front 15-13 and kept its lead until a Jordan ace and an error on Hofstra tied the set at 16. Kazarian recorded the 18th point of the set for FGCU to again tie but the Pride recorded seven of the final eight points to take the third game 25-19.

FGCU trailed 8-2 and 14-7 during the fourth set but fought back to tie at 14. Powered by a pair of blocks from Kazarian and Aldrich, the Eagles also used kills from Kazarian and an ace from Rhoades to get back into the set. It was another block from Kazarian and Aldrich that prevented a Hofstra run and allowed the Eagles to tie once again at 19. After a 3-0 run, FGCU again used two blocks from Kazarian and Aldrich to earn match point at 24-23. The Pride however would use two kills and an error to force a fifth set, winning 26-24.

The Eagles utilized kills from Aldrich, Moeller and Kazarian to take a 3-0 lead in the fifth set. FGCU would remain in front and led 7-3 following an attack error. Hofstra then scored eight consecutive points before Tutwiler ended the Pride run. Trailing 11-8, the Eagles could not manage a comeback, falling in the fifth set 15-9.

Kazarian led FGCU with 18 kills and was joined by Allen, Carroll and Moeller with double-digit kills. Allen and Carroll also had 12 and 11 digs, respectively as each recorded a double-double. Kazarian and Aldrich finished with a combined 15 blocks. As a team, the Eagles were outhit .272 to .220.

UP NEXT

The Green and Blue have a midweek contest at Bethune-Cookman on Tuesday, Sept. 15. The match in Daytona Beach, Fla. is set to begin at 7 p.m.  Following the match against the Wildcats, the Eagles return home to play host to FAU and Ohio. FGCU plays FAU on Sept. 17 and Ohio on Sept. 18 and 19 inside Alico Arena.

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.