FORT MYERS, Fla. – In the first of back-to-back matches against Ohio, the FGCU volleyball team fell 3-1 Friday, Sept. 18 inside Alico Arena. The Eagles went into the break tied at one, but could not slow down the Bobcats, who received votes in the latest national polls. The Eagles fell to 7-5 with the loss and the Bobcats improved to 9-3.
Amanda Carroll (Albuquerque, N.M./Sandia High School) led the Eagles with 13 kills and added a pair of assists.
Marlene Moeller (Lüdinghausen, Germany/Pascal Gymnasium) chipped in with seven kills for the Green and Blue.
Courtney Stephens (Winter Park, Fla./Winter Park High School) compiled 15 digs defensively.
FGCU and Ohio split the first two sets by 25-20 scores to head into the break tied at one set each. After the intermission, FGCU was unable to gain offensive momentum, falling 25-11 in the third stanza. The Eagles kept the fourth set close, but Ohio finished off the match, winning 25-20.
"I thought the first two sets were competitive in a way where we felt we were making progress," said head coach
Matt Botsford. "We got off to a tough start in the first set but we clawed our way back and made it competitive. The second set was an example of what can happen when we mange first contact and really that was the story of the match. We struggled with the pressure Ohio put on us. Ohio's offense was firing on all cylinders."
The Eagles kept the first set close after falling behind 10-5. FGCU pulled to within 13-10 following a kill from
Elisa Anne Aldrich (Charleston, S.C./Wando High School) and a kill from Carroll made the score 15-13 midway through the set. Kills from Carroll and Moeller tied the set at 18 but the Bobcats went on a 7-1 run to close the set.
The Eagles bounced back in the second set, keeping the Bobcats within reach before tying the set at nine on a
Mackenzie Allen (Naples, Fla./Gulf Coast High School) kill. With the set tied at 12, FGCU went on a 3-0 run behind a pair of kills from Carroll. Ohio responded to tie at 15 before FGCU would use another run to pull in front for good. An Allen kill gave the Eagles their biggest lead of the set at 23-17 and Allen would end the set with her third kill. FGCU took the second set 25-20.
The Green and Blue were held to their lowest hitting percentage of the season as Ohio turned a 6-6 tie into a 16-7 lead. An attack error allowed FGCU to get back into the set momentarily, but the Eagles would pick up three points the rest of the way falling 25-11 in the third game.
Needing a win in the fourth set, the Eagles remained within two for the majority of the set.
Vanessa Benke (Toledo, Brazil/College of Central Florida) gave FGCU a chance to tie with a kill to make the score 9-10. Ohio earned side out immediately and increased its lead to 17-10. A service error and a Carroll kill cut into the deficit, producing a 17-12 score. A
Lauren Tutwiler (Louisville, Ky./Assumption High School) kill nearly sparked the Eagles late, getting the Green and Blue to within 21-17 but FGCU could not mount a comeback, falling 25-20.
UP NEXT The Eagles have one more matchup with the Bobcats Saturday, Sept. 19 at 6 p.m. inside Alico Arena before heading back on the road to face Georgia Southern and Stetson as A-Sun play begins. The non-conference match against GSU is scheduled for Sept. 25 while the Eagles' A-Sun opening contest against Stetson will be played on Sept. 26.
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 26-16 (.619) 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.
