FORT MYERS, Fla. – The FGCU volleyball team (19-3, 6-1) dominated the floor in its 3-0 victory over Florida foe UNF (14-9, 4-3) on Saturday night. The win marks the Eagles' third-straight shutout and their 14th of the season – more than any Division 1 program in the state of Florida or in the ASUN. With the win, FGCU has emerged victorious in 18 of its last 19 matches and 23 of its last 26 sets.
 
"In the first set, I thought we were good offensively, but it was really challenging for us to get a stop," said head coach Matt Botsford. "And then in the second set, we played great defensively, but our offense was a little bit off. We talked at the break about trying to combine those two things and in the third set we saw exactly that – service pressure, good decision making. Maggie (Rick) set a really good game, so I was really pleased."
 
Thanks in large part to Rick (Alpharhetta, Ga./Blessed Trinity Catholic HS), the Eagles own the highest team hitting percentage in the ASUN and rank top-20 in the country at .284.  Tonight, Rick helped FGCU to a team average of .295 and assisted on 35 of the Eagles 43 kills.
 
Senior hitter Leigh Pudwill (Lino Lakes, Minn./Centennial HS/Northern Iowa) led the team with nine kills followed closely by sophomore Amanda Carroll (Albuquerque, N.M./Sandia HS) and freshman Giovanna Borgiotti (Vienna, Va./George C. Marshall HS) who each tallied eight.
 
Pudwill also collected 10 digs matching libero Courtney Stephens (Winter Park, Fla./Winter Park HS) who facilitated a defense that held the Osprey to a hitting percentage of .096.
 
Freshman middle block Daniele Serrano (Sanford, Fla./Seminole HS) contributed both offensively and defensively with six kills on nine attempts and two blocks, but it was senior Marlene Moeller (Ludinghausen, Germany/Pascal Gymnasium) who led the team in blocks with four.
 
The Osprey jumped out to a 9-6 start in the first set before FGCU tied it up with three-straight scores. After the Eagles went on another three point run, highlighted by kills from Borgiotti and Moeller, UNF called a timeout. When play resumed, FGCU continued to roll with three more points. North Florida responded by snagging 10 of the next 14 scores. With the gap narrowed to one, Borgiotti recorded back-to-back kills, giving FGCU a 25-22 set win.
 
The second set started off tight, with the teams tied through 18 points. At 9-all, North Florida tallied three consecutive scores forcing FGCU to take a timeout. When play resumed, the Osprey scored one more point before the Eagles went on a six-point run. UNF rallied with four-straight scored, taking a 17-16 lead over FGCU. The Eagles recaptured the advantage with a five-point run to advance the score to 24-19. A kill from Moeller ended the set at 25-20 in favor of the Eagles.
 
FGCU took a quick 7-2 lead over the Osprey in the third set before UNF was forced to call a timeout. After the break, the Eagles continued to run the floor, tallying 14 of the next 18 scores with kills from Rick, Carroll and Pudwill. Trailing 21-6, North Florida recorded four consecutive points. The Eagles fought back with a three-point run of their own to bring up set point. After back-to-back points by the Osprey, Serrano ended the match with a kill gave FGCU a 25-12 set victory.
 
UP NEXT
The Green and Blue will hit the road again next weekend to face Stetson in Deland, Fla. on Saturday, Oct. 22 at 3 p.m. FGCU downed the Hatters 3-0 earlier this season at Alico Arena.
 
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 59-25 (.702) record, including a 27-8 (.771) 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.