DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – FGCU volleyball earned its first midweek victory of the season with a 3-1 win over Bethune-Cookman Tuesday, Sept. 15. FGCU improved to 7-3 with their four-set win, meanwhile, Bethune-Cookman fell to 2-9.

Amanda Carroll (Albuquerque, N.M./Sandia High School) and Mackenzie Allen (Naples, Fla./Gulf Coast High School) posted 13 kills each while Marlene Moeller (Lüdinghausen, Germany/Pascal Gymnasium) contributed nine kills in the win. Maggie Rick (Alpharetta, Ga./Blessed Trinity Catholic High School) ended the match with 43 assists to fuel the offense. Making her first start, Karissa Rhoades (Valrico, Fla./Bloomingdale Senior High School) added seven kills.

"The first set was probably the best set we've collectively played all season," said head coach Matt Botsford. "We were sharp offensively and defensively. Every phase of the game was where we wanted it to be. We saw it pretty precipitous drop after the first set though and part of that was the work Bethune-Cookman put in. They really took control of the net and we had a tough time adjusting to that."

The Eagles overpowered the Wildcats to open the match, holding the hosts to a .043 hitting percentage while carving out a 25-12 set win. Bethune-Cookman came out firing in the second set however, tying the match with a 25-17 victory. FGCU came out of the break and held off multiple runs from the Wildcats to take the third set 25-20. The Eagles and Wildcats exchanged points throughout the fourth set before the Green and Blue pulled away, taking the final set 25-21.

"We used six freshmen and sophomores tonight," Botsford added. "I've said all year that our ability to be good at the end is going to be based on the depth of this team. Right now, I have 14 players that I wouldn't hesitate to call on. Karissa is a great example, making her first start tonight. She played within herself and understood her role and what she does best."

The Eagles never trailed in the first set after taking an early 5-1 lead. Leading 9-3, Moeller picked up a pair of kills around a Rick ace to increase the Eagles lead to 12-3. The Wildcats cut into the deficit to make the score 14-7, but the Eagles used kills from Allen and Lauren Tutwiler (Louisville, Ky./Assumption High School) to bring the lead to 19-10. FGCU took advantage of three Wildcat errors in the late stages of the stanza along with a Carroll kill to close out the set with a 25-12 victory. Allen led the Green and Blue with four kills while Moeller added three kills. The Eagles ended the set with a .348 hitting percentage.

FGCU and Bethune-Cookman were tied just twice in the second as the Eagles were unable to slow down the Wildcats. FGCU tied the set at nine on an ace from Rick, but the Wildcats regained the lead and ultimately a 12-9 lead. Rhoades ended the run and looked to spark the Green and Blue with a kill. A service error from Bethune-Cookman cut the Wildcat lead to 13-11 only for the home side to start a 4-0 run to move in front 17-11. FGCU could not mount a comeback, falling in the second set 25-17. Carroll paced the Eagles with four kills.

With the match tied at one set each, the Eagles used an ace from Vanessa Benke (Toledo, Brazil/College of Central Florida) to take a 3-2 lead. Consecutive aces from Courtney Stephens (Winter Park, Fla./Winter Park High School) increased the lead to 7-3 as part of a 4-0 run for the Eagles. FGCU's lead would be cut to 8-7 moments later but a service error kept the Eagles in control. FGCU was unable to create a sizeable advantage until kills from Rhoades, Tutwiler and Carroll gave the Green and Blue a 17-12 lead. Once again, the Wildcats closed the gap, once to 19-17 and again to 22-20. After an Eagle timeout, a pair of Wildcat errors allowed Allen to end the set with her third kill of the stanza to give FGCU the 25-20 win. Allen and Carroll charged the Eagles with three kills each while Rick dished out 12 assists.

The Eagles had to fight through 13 ties and three lead changes in the fourth set before emerging victorious. FGCU did not take the lead until Allen gave the Eagles a 12-11 advantage midway through the game. The Wildcats tied it up multiple times following kills from Allen and Carroll which gave the Eagles momentary leads. FGCU took the lead for good on an Allen kill, putting the Green and Blue in front 20-19. After an error and another kill from Allen, Bethune-Cookman called timeout. The Eagles recorded three of the final five points, ending the match on a block from Tutwiler and Rhoades.

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 26-14 (.650) 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.