FORT MYERS, Fla. - The FGCU volleyball team dominated all aspects of the match in its 3-0 (25-18, 25-11, 25-18) shut out over Jacksonville on Friday night. With the victory, the Eagles move to 18-3 on the season (5-1 conf.) and have won 17 of their last 18 matches. Meanwhile, the Dolphins slide to 4-14 (1-5 conf.).
 
The Green and Blue led Jacksonville in virtually every statistical category on Friday night including kills (43 to 23), assists (41 to 23), hitting percentage (.337 to .061), digs (48 to 37), blocks (7 to 2) and service aces (8 to 2). FGCU hit over .300 in all three sets of the match and didn't allow the Dolphins a hitting percentage over .125 in a single set. 
 
"Statistically speaking, it was pretty good," said head coach Matt Botsford. "Offensively, we were a little bit better than our average, and I thought we blocked pretty well, especially towards the end."
 
The Eagles had three players hitting over .300 in the match, led by Daniele Serrano (Sanford, Fla./Seminole HS) who averaged .400 with five kills on 10 attacks. The freshman middle also tallied a team-leading four blocks on the night.
 
"She's done a really good job, especially considering her stats as a freshman," said Botsford of Serrano. "To get out there and have that kind of impact is always huge for us, and when she plays like that, it opens things up for some of our other hitters. That was the key."
 
Setter Maggie Rick (Alpharhetta, Ga./Blessed Trinity Catholic HS) tallied a team-high 29 assists in the match, and was aided in the third set by senior Marina Adami (Caxias Do Sul, Brazil, College of Central Florida) who provided a lift from the bench with seven assists of her own.
 
Sophomore Amanda Carroll (Albuquerque, N.M./Sandia HS) led the floor with 14 kills on 31 attacks. Carroll also contributed defensively, finishing one dig shy of her eighth double-double of the season. Senior Leigh Pudwill (Lino Lakes, Minn./Centennial HS/Northern Iowa) and freshman Giovanna Borgiotti (Vienna, Va./George C. Marshall HS) also contributed to the Eagles attack with nine kills each.
 
FGCU started off with an early 9-7 lead in the first set before four consecutive points forced a JU timeout. The Dolphins responding by capturing eight of the next 12 points, which cut the gap back to two. Shortly after, senior Caroline Jordan (Orlando, Fla./William R. Boone HS) added an ace from the service line that increased the score to 19-15 in favor of FGCU. The Eagles advanced their lead to seven with three more consecutive points. The Dolphins recovered with two scores of their own, but FGCU's lead proved to be too much for JU as three more points ended the set at 25-18 in favor of the Eagles.
 
From the start, the second set looked like it might be over quick as Eagles slammed down two service aces in the first six points.  With a 4-3 lead, FGCU went on a commanding seven-point run highlighted by back-to-back Pudwill kills. As JU found its rhythm, the teams split the next 10 points. But with another five consecutive scores, the Eagles began to put the set out of reach. Trailing 21-8, JU tallied three of the next five points. FGCU captured set two after a Carroll kill followed by a service ace from libero Courtney Stephens (Winter Park, Fla./Winter Park HS) ended things at 25-11.
 
FGCU started out quick in set three, with four-straight scores including a block from Borgiotti and Serrano. JU responded with a three-point run. The teams split the next four points before the Eagles began to pull ahead with kills from Rick and Borgiotti. With the Eagles up 13-8, Jacksonville used a timeout. When play resumed, the Dolphins rattled off four-straight scores – their longest run of the night. FGCU responded with six consecutive points, highlighted by kills from Pudwill and sophomore Karissa Rhoades (Valrico, Fla./Bloomingdale Senior HS). Jacksonville began to recover as the teams split the next 10 points, but it was too late for the Dolphins as a kill from Carroll gave FGCU a 25-18 win in the set.
 
UP NEXT
The Green and Blue are back in action tomorrow as they face North Florida on Saturday Oct. 15th at 6 p.m. Fans are encouraged to wear green for the match, and remember to bring your little ones to cheer on the Eagles, as kids 12 and under are invited to attend for free as a special Youth Night promotion.
 
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 third year at the helm of the FGCU volleyball program.  His teams have combined for an overall 58-25 (.698) record, including a 26-8 (.765) mark in ASUN play. In his inaugural season, the Eagles finished with a record of 19-11 with a second-place ASUN finish. Botsford has coached 10 All-Conference selections in his two seasons. 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. A former professional volleyball player, he is a 1998 graduate of Tri-State University (now Trine), 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.