DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Non-conference play continues for the FGCU volleyball team (6-3) as the Eagles prepare for their first midweek contest. The Green and Blue travel to Daytona Beach Tuesday, Sept. 15 to face Bethune-Cookman (2-8). First serve is scheduled for 7 p.m. inside Moore Gymnasium.

BETHUNE-COOKMAN
The Wildcats began the year 2-1 with wins over Binghamton and Stetson but have dropped seven-straight matches heading into Tuesday's home opener. Led by Delicia Peirre's 124 kills, Bethune-Cookman enters with a .265 attack percentage. Rhea Simon adds 70 kills for the Wildcats offensively. Hazel Ortiz-Rosado has recorded 10 aces this season and leads the team with 296 assists. Ortiz-Rosado's 111 digs is second on the team, only behind Normarie Rolon's 113 digs.

Three Wildcats have combined for 76 blocks. Phylecia Armstrong has accumulated 27 blocks, while Rakaya Neely and Pierre have surpassed the 20 block mark as well. Opponents are hitting .214 against the Wildcats.

FGCU is 6-0 against Bethune-Cookman since the two first met in 2007, including a pair of wins in Daytona Beach. The Eagles have only dropped three sets to the Wildcats. The two programs met last season in Daytona Beach with FGCU coming away 3-1 winners. Kazarian posted 18 kills in the victory for the Eagles.

THE GREEN AND BLUE

The Eagles picked up a pair of victories and finished second at the Hofstra/Asics Invitational. Eleonora Kazarian (Tibilisi, Georgia/College of Central Florida) led FGCU with 48 kills and also contributed 16 blocks to aid in the defensive effort. The Green and Blue stifled Hartford to open the weekend, winning in three sets. The Eagles continued play in Hempstead, New York with their first four-set win of the year, taking down Princeton before dropping the finale, falling in five to Hofstra.

Amanda Carroll (Albuquerque, N.M./Sandia High School) added 34 kills to help the Eagles in attack. Maggie Rick (Alpharetta, Ga./Blessed Trinity Catholic High School) posted 123 assists, cementing her spot in second place in the A-Sun with 10.53 kills per set. Elisa Anne Aldrich (Charleston, S.C./Wando High School) led the team with 17 blocks, moving into first in the A-Sun in blocks per set.

Following the conclusion of the tournament, Kazarian and Carroll were named to the All-Tournament team, marking the second time this season both have earned tournament honors.

Aldrich and Carroll were honored by the Atlantic Sun Monday, Sept. 14 for their performances at the Hofstra/Asics Invitational. Aldrich was named the conference's Defensive Player of the Week while Carroll collected Freshman of the Week accolades.

UP NEXT

The Green and Blue return home to play host to Ohio (7-3) and FAU (7-3) beginning Thursday, Sept. 17. The Eagles and Owls meet to open the weekend at 7 p.m. inside Alico Arena on Thursday, and following a neutral game between Ohio and FAU at 12:30 p.m. Friday, FGCU will play Ohio at 7 p.m. The weekend concludes when the Eagles and Bobcats meet on Saturday, Sept. 19 at 6 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 is in his second year at the helm of the FGCU volleyball program and his teams have combined for an overall 25-14 (.641) record, including and 11-3 (.786) mark in A-Sun play. In his inaugural season, the Eagles finished with a record of 19-11 with a second-place finish in the A-Sun. Botsford's team also had five players recognized as All-Conference honorees, 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.