FORT MYERS, Fla. – FGCU volleyball dropped a four-set decision to in-state rivals FAU 3-1 on Thursday, Sept. 17. In a defensive battle, the Eagles and Owls combined for 30.5 team blocks while both sides hit less than .210 in the match. With the loss, FGCU stands at 7-4 in 2015 while FAU improved to 8-3.

"We showed a lot of fight tonight," said head coach Matt Botsford. "It was shocking to look at the number of blocks from both sides. The difference was FAU's floor defense had more of an impact than ours did. We just struggled offensively to find the floor against them tonight."

Amanda Carroll (Albuquerque, N.M./Sandia High School) led the Eagles with 20 kills and 13 digs for her third consecutive double-double. The freshman also added six blocks setting a new career high. Vanessa Benke (Toledo, Brazil/College of Central Florida) made her first start at outside hitter since the 2014 season, compiling seven kills and nine digs. Marlene Moeller (Lüdinghausen, Germany/Pascal Gymnasium) ended the match with a team-best .294 attack percentage on eight kills. Elisa Anne Aldrich (Charleston, S.C./Wando High School) was again the centerpiece of the Eagle's net defense, recording nine blocks.

The Eagles dropped the first set 25-22 despite climbing back from 7-1 early in the set. The Green and Blue bounced back to win set two, 25-21 behind seven kills from Carroll and four blocks from Aldrich. It took extra points to decide the third set but it was the Owls who claimed a 26-24 set victory after the Eagles came back from 24-22, fighting off multiple set point opportunities. FGCU was unable to slow down FAU in the fourth set, dropping the final game 25-15.

After falling behind 7-1 early to open the match, Carroll began a 4-0 run for FGCU helped by three Owl attack errors. The deficit would grow to 12-7 before Carroll again chipped into the Owl lead. The Eagles would get to within 16-15 following a Maggie Rick (Alpharetta, Ga./Blessed Trinity Catholic High School) kill. After the Owls pushed the lead to 19-16, a kill from Mackenzie Allen (Naples, Fla./Gulf Coast High School) and an attack error once again brought the Eagles to within one at 19-18. FGCU would pull to within one on two more occasions but could not tie the set as FAU came away with a 25-22 win.

The defensive matchup was in full display in the second set with neither side hitting above .180 and the teams combining for 12.5 team blocks. It was the Eagles who came out and took control in the second game, taking a 6-2 lead behind kills from Carroll and Allen and a pair of blocks. FAU pulled even at 6-6 and eventually took a 14-9 advantage midway through the set. The Eagle's net defense stepped up, recording three consecutive blocks to force FAU to call timeout. After the timeout, kills from Carroll and Benke pushed the Eagles in front 15-14, a lead FGCU would never relinquish. FGCU saw its lead shrink to 20-19 but used kills from Benke and Moeller to have a chance at set point. With the score 24-21, Karissa Rhoades (Valrico, Fla./Bloomingdale Senior High School), Aldrich and Carroll ended the set the way it started, with a block to send the Eagles into the locker room with the match tied at one. Marina Adami (Caxias Do Sul, Brazil/College of Central Florida) helped spark the Eagles offense with eight assists while Rhoades, Aldrich and Carroll stifled the Owls attack. Rhoades finished with three blocks to help on the defensive effort led by Aldrich and Carroll's four blocks.

"Our floor defense really stepped up in the second set," Botsford added. "We were good along the net all night but floor defense will tend to generate more swings so we really stressed that at the break. In game two we saw it, but from there we saw it steadily drop off."

Following the intermission, the Eagles and Owls remained close until a 6-3 run from FAU gave the Owls an 18-12 lead. Carroll picked up a pair of kills to slow the momentum and a pair of Aldrich blocks, one solo and one assisted by Allen, would swing the set in FGCU's favor momentarily. FAU however would respond, taking advantage of a pair of Eagle errors to force set point. Trailing 24-22, it was an attack error from the Owls and a Carroll kill that tied the set and force extra points. The Owls would record the final two points to take the crucial third set, 26-24. Carroll and Benke led the Eagles offensively with five and three kills, respectively. Benke also picked up a pair of blocks in the set.

FAU used its third set victory to take a 7-1 lead in the fourth set. The Eagles would pull within 15-10 but the gap would not close any further. The Owls came away with a 25-15 set win to claim the 3-1 match victory.

UP NEXT

FGCU is back in action Friday, Sept. 18 against MAC power Ohio. The match is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. The Bobcats and Eagles will meet in consecutive days inside Alico Arena. The two programs will also face off on Saturday, Sept. 19 at 6 p.m. as the Eagles prepare for Atlantic Sun play.   

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 26-15 (.634) 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.