TAMPA, Fla. – FGCU volleyball split on the final day of the USF Classic Saturday, Sept. 5. The Eagles defeated in-state rivals USF 3-0 behind a strong performance from junior Leigh Pudwill. The Green and Blue then took the first set from Arkansas State in the finale, but fell in four sets to the Red Wolves. FGCU moves to 4-2 on the year, while USF fell to 2-2 and Arkansas State improved to 5-1.

The Eagles limited the Bulls to open the day, opening with a 25-15 set victory. It was the defense that carried FGCU to a 25-14 second set win, limiting the Bulls to a .028 attack percentage. The Green and Blue faced set point on two occasions in the third set before rallying to take the third set 27-25.

"The first couple sets in the early match we played a really high brand of volleyball," said head coach Matt Botsford. "We weren't pleased about our performance against Missouri and we were motivated to play up to our potential and we saw glimpses of it. The third set was tight but we made the right plays at the right time. We're going to be put in every possible scenario throughout the season and we need to be comfortable in every situation. We've seen a couple of times already this season that we can pull it out after we fall behind. It's great from an experience standout."

In the second match of the day, the Eagles took a 1-0 lead on Arkansas State with a 25-20 set win. FGCU took an early lead in the second set, but fell late 25-21. Arkansas State came out in the third set and hit .541 to put the Eagles behind 2-1 in the match. In the crucial fourth set, FGCU was unable to build momentum, falling 25-17.

"We carried a lot of momentum from the first match and we did everything we needed to against a difficult matchup in that first set," Botsford added. "They play a unique style and they play it very well. As the game progressed, they found some holes that we can turn into strengths."

USF

The Eagles started strong in the first set, taking advantage of multiple USF errors while utilizing a balanced attack to take an 11-6 lead. Of the first 11 points for FGCU, five different Eagles recorded a kill. FGCU's lead grew to 17-8 thanks to a pair of Eleonora Kazarian (Tibilisi, Georgia/College of Central Florida) kills, forcing the final USF timeout of the set. After the timeout, the Bulls closed the lead to 17-13 but the Eagles responded with eight of the final 10 points of the set capped off by Pudwill's (Lino Lakes, Minn./Centennial High School/Northern Iowa) team-leading fifth kill of the set. The Eagles finished the set with a .481 attack percentage and held the Bulls to a .071 attack percentage. Amanda Carroll (Albuquerque, N.M./Sandia High School) and Kazarian both added three kills in the set.

Pudwill sparked the Eagles in the second set, giving FGCU a 6-5 lead early and a 9-5 lead just a few moments later to force a USF timeout. Caroline Jordan (Orlando, Fla./William R Boone High School) provided an ace out of the timeout, her second of the match, as the Bulls got to within 10-6. It was Pudwill again, with the help of Elisa Anne Aldrich (Charleston, S.C./Wando High School) on the block, to push momentum back in the Eagles favor. Kazarian would increase the lead to 18-13 followed by an error on the Bulls, forcing a timeout from USF. Pudwill and Carroll brought the lead to 20-10 in favor of FGCU and Aldrich's second kill of the set gave the Eagles a 25-14 set win to send FGCU into the break with a 2-0 lead in the match. Pudwill and Kazarian each had four kills to lead the Eagles while Carroll, Aldrich and Marlene Moeller (Lüdinghausen, Germany/Pascal Gymnasium) added two kills each. The FGCU defense held USF to an. 028 attack percentage, thanks to a pair of blocks from Aldrich and three from Pudwill.

Searching for the straight-set win, FGCU had to fight through 15 ties and five lead changes to win the third set. After a Carroll ace gave the Eagles their first lead of the set at 7-6, USF went in front 10-7, forcing FGCU to call timeout. A pair of errors and a Moeller ace tied the set at 10. After falling behind 13-10, the Eagles would again tie the set at 13-13 on a Courtney Stephens (Winter Park, Fla./Winter Park High School) ace. The back-and-forth set continued with the Bulls pulling in front 21-19. Kazarian responded with a kill to pull within 21-20 and then the Eagles tied the set 21-21. The Bulls had leads of 21-19, 23-21, 24-22 and 25-24, but the Eagles came from behind, taking the set 27-25. Facing set point, Carroll kept the Eagles alive with two kills before Moeller gave FGCU a 26-15 lead. With match point, Pudwill and Moeller recorded the block to finish off the victory. Carroll and Pudwill both had four kills in the set while Kazarian added three.  

Along with her 13 kills, Pudwill compiled 5 blocks to lead the Eagles. Kazarian added 10 kills in the win and both Aldrich and Moeller recorded three blocks. As a team, the Eagles finished the match with an attack percentage of .280. Freshman Maggie Rick (Alpharetta, Ga./Blessed Trinity Catholic High School) accumulated 32 assists.

"We gave Leigh [Pudwill] the green light this weekend and she made an impact," Botsford said. "Her blocking and her energy are big for the team and we're happy she can be out there performing like she is."

ARKANSAS STATE

It was Moeller and Pudwill once again that supplied the offense for the Eagles early against the Red Wolves. The duo combined for four of the Eagles first seven points as FGCU took an early 7-5 lead. The Eagles would increase their advantage to 11-7 before Arkansas State came back to tie the set at 11. After an FGCU timeout, Pudwill put her team back in front, sparking the Eagles to a 20-14 lead. Arkansas State would again bounce back, getting to within 20-17 forcing another FGCU timeout. Moeller and Pudwill recorded the next four FGCU points before Carroll gave the Eagles a 25-20 set victory. Moeller and Pudwill tallied six kills each in the opening set as the Eagles outhit the Red Wolves .231 to .179. Aldrich picked up four blocks to lead FGCU, while Pudwill finished with three blocks.

The Eagles got off to another fast start in the second set, this time behind Carroll who recorded five of the Eagles first seven points. With FGCU leading 7-4, Pudwill and Carroll increased the lead to 10-6 until the Red Wolves came back to tie the set at 10. Arkansas State took a 16-13 lead in the middle stages of the set forcing the Eagles to come from behind, tying the set at 16, 17 and 18. The Eagles however were unable to regain the lead, falling 25-21 in the second set. Carroll finished the set with seven kills. As a team, FGCU hit .136

The Red Wolves carried their momentum into the third set, taking an early 5-1 lead. FGCU would cut into the lead with kills from Lauren Tutwiler (Louisville, Ky./Assumption High School) and Carroll but would trail 12-4 during set three. Moeller helped cut the lead down to 13-7 but Arkansas State continued to build upon its lead, taking the third set 25-13. Pudwill and Tutwiler led the Eagles with three kills en route to a .367 team attack percentage.

Neither team was able to build more than a two point lead until Arkansas State went up 12-9 in the fourth set. The deficit would grow to 19-11 until Courtney Stephens (Winter Park, Fla./Winter Park High School) provided an ace to help the Eagles come back. Kills from Carroll and Pudwill got the Green and Blue to within 20-14 but Arkansas State took the fourth set 25-17 and win the match 3-1.

Pudwill finished the match with 15 kills, a new career-high, along with six blocks. Pudwill was joined by Carroll, Kazarian and Moeller with double-digit kills. Aldrich added six blocks for FGCU and Rick recorded 42 assists in the match.

UP NEXT

The Eagles will travel to Hempstead, N.Y. for the Hofstra/Asics Invitational. Beginning Friday, Sept. 11, the Green and Blue will face Hartford, Princeton and Hofstra. The Eagles face Hartford in the lone match Friday at 3 p.m. On Saturday, Sept. 12, FGCU takes on Princeton at 10 a.m. and Hostra at 12:30 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 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 raise awareness.