Matchup: FGCU (19-3, 6-1), Stetson (4-18, 1-6)
When: Saturday, Oct. 22 | 3 PM | Deland, Fla.
Links: Video | Live Stats | Twitter
Coaches: Matt Botsford: (3rd season @ FGCU – 59-25; same overall) | Kristina Hernandez: (3rd season @ Stetson, 27-31; 12th Overall, 169-215)
 
DELAND, Fla. – After posting back-to-back shutouts last weekend, the FGCU volleyball team hits the road to face in-state rival Stetson on Saturday, Oct. 22 at 3 p.m. The Green and Blue have won 18 of their last 19 matches and have swept the competition in their last three.
 
The Eagles, who currently sit at 19-3 (6-1), have made it to 20 wins four times since transitioning to a Division I program. If FGCU is able to down the Hatters and reach 20 wins on Saturday, it will be the fastest to 20 since its first DI season in 2007.
 
Live stats will be made available through StatBroadcast. The match will also be streamed on ESPN3. Links for the live stats and video broadcast can be accessed at FGCUAthletics.com. Fans are also encouraged to follow along on Twitter by following @FGCU_VB.
 
THE GREEN AND BLUE
The Eagles enter the weekend fresh off three-straight shutout wins over Lipscomb, Jacksonville and UNF. Their 13 shutout victories put them just four shy of tying a program record, with eight matches still remaining.
 
FGCU owns the most efficient offense in the ASUN conference and ranks 11th in the nation with .284 assists per set.  Much of the Eagles offensive success is due to setter Maggie Rick (Alpharhetta, Ga./Blessed Trinity Catholic HS), who is averaging a conference-high 10.80 assists per set.
 
Offensive stalwart Amanda Carroll (Albuquerque, N.M./Sandia HS) leads the team and the ASUN with 4.41 kills per set, which ranks 19th in Division I volleyball. The rising sophomore has also produced a team-high seven double-doubles with 161 digs on the season.
 
FGCU has dramatically improved its defense over the last few weeks, averaging more than two blocks per set in conference play (2.27), the most of any ASUN member. Newcomer Daniele Serrano (Sanford, Fla./Seminole HS) owns a team-high 58.0 blocks followed closely by senior Marlene Moeller (Ludinghausen, Germany/Pascal Gymnasium) who has collected 50.0.
 
SCOUTING STETSON
Stetson begins weekend play after dropping its last three matches with losses to Jacksonville, North Florida and Kennesaw State. The Hatter's last win was a 3-0 victory over NJIT on Oct. 1.
 
Madison Akins reached a milestone with a record a career-high 23 kills, including the 1000th of her career, last Saturday vs. Jacksonville.  She currently ranks fifth in the ASUN with a 3.01 kills-per-set average.
 
Rookie setter Karmen Reivik earned the first double-double of her career with 33 assists and 10 digs against Jacksonville. The following week, she set a career-record with 46 assists versus North Florida.
 
The Eagles defeated the Hatters 3-0 when the two teams met in Fort Myers on Sept. 24 earlier this season. FGCU owns a 16-2 record all-time against Stetson.
 
RPI
FGCU climbed to 60 from 63 in the latest RPI ratings, which was released on Oct. 18. The Eagles remain the highest ranked team in the ASUN followed by Lipscomb at 90 and Kennesaw State at 111.
 
UP NEXT
The Green and Blue will return to the nest to face in-state rival Bethune-Cookman on Tuesday, Oct. 25 at 7 p.m. Earlier this season, FGCU swept the Wildcats in Daytona Beach en route to tying the longest winning streak in program history with 15 straight wins.  
 
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 hel