FGCU (16-2, 3-0), Kennesaw State (9-8, 3-0), Lipscomb (9-5, 2-1)
Coaches: Matt Botford (3rd season @ FGCU – 56-24; same overall) | Keith Schunzel (4th season @ Kennesaw State – 42-45; same overall) | Brandon Rosenthal (14th season @ Lipscomb – 242-162; same overall)
FGCU vs. Kennesaw State: Friday, Oct. 7 | 7 PM | Kennesaw, Ga.
Links: Live Stats | Watch
FGCU vs. Lipscomb: Saturday, Oct. 8 | 6 PM | Nashville, Tenn.
Links: Live Stats | Watch
 
KENNESAW, Ga. – After matching a program-high 15-straight wins with victories over NJIT and USC Upstate last weekend, the FGCU volleyball team will hit the road to continue conference play. The Green and Blue head to Kennesaw State on Friday, Oct. 7th for a 7 p.m. contest before traveling to Nashville, Tenn. to face Lipscomb at 6 p.m. (ET) on Saturday, Oct. 8.
 
Live stats are available for both matches through StatBroadcast. The Eagles' Friday night match will be streamed live on ASUN TV, and Saturday's match will be broadcasted via ESPN3. Links for the live stats and video streams can be accessed at FGCUAthletics.com.
 
STREAKING
FGCU has downed its opponents in 15-straight matches going into this week. The Eagles' winning streak is currently the longest in the nation with #1 Nebraska's loss to #14 Ohio State, and ties the longest streak the program's DI history. The last time FGCU won 15 in a row was in 2012 when they set a DI program record of 15 straight.
 
THE GREEN AND BLUE
The Eagles are undefeated in ASUN play going into this weekend with wins over Stetson, USC Upstate and NJIT. On top of their record-tying 15-match win streak, the Eagles have outscored their opponents in their last 15 sets. FGCU has swept the competition in 11 of its 16 wins this season.
 
Last weekend, senior Leigh Pudwill (Lino Lakes, Minn./Northern Iowa/Centennial HS) stepped up in the absence of sophomore Amanda Carroll (Albuquerque, N.M./Sandia HS) to lead the team in kills through back-to-back shutouts. Despite missing the last two matches due to injury, Carroll still leads the ASUN with 251 kills. Her 4.48 kills per set ranks 14th in the NCAA.
 
FGCU's .289 hitting percentage is best in the ASUN and ranks 10th in Division I Volleyball. Senior Marlene Moeller (Ludinghausen, Germany/Pascal Gymnasium) tops the conference with a .355 hitting percentage.
 
Setter Maggie Rick (Alpharetta, Ga./Blessed Trinity Catholic HS) has paced the Eagles' offense with a conference-high average of 11.02 assists per set. The sophomore has assisted on 78% of FGCU's 879 kills so far in 2016.
 
SCOUTING KENNESAW STATE
FGCU and Kennesaw State will be battling for program records on Friday, as the Eagles' 15 straight and the Owls' eight consecutive wins are tied for the longest in each program's history. The Owls are off to a 3-0 start in ASUN play for the first time ever after sweeping Jacksonville and North Florida.
 
Anaiah Boyer was named ASUN Player of the Week following the Owls successful weekend. The junior outside hitter tallied 43 kills hitting .359 with just 10 errors. She is the first player to win back-to-back ASUN Player of the Week awards since Lipscomb's Kaycee Green did it in 2012.
 
Libero Katarina Morton has totaled 352 digs in 2016 and leads the ASUN averaging 5.25 per set. She is the only player in the conference to average over five digs per set.
 
Setter Kristi Piedimonte has accumulated 669 assists through 17 matches this season. Her 10.15 assists per set average ranks second in the conference behind Rick.
 
The Owls ended the season for FGCU last year when they took down the Eagles 3-1 in the ASUN Semifinals. Including their postseason meeting, the Eagles maintain an 11-5 record against Kennesaw State all-time
 
SCOUTING LIPSCOMB
Lipscomb, who entered the year as preseason favorites, shut out Jacksonville and North Florida last weekend, but fell to Kennesaw State 3-2 the week before.
 
Entering this weekend 2-1 in ASUN play, Lipscomb boasts one of the most dangerous offenses in the nation, ranking third in the NCAA with 14.87 kills per set behind #5 San Diego and UConn.
 
The Bison's outside hitter Carlyle Nusbaum is ranks second in the ASUN right behind Carroll with 233 kills on the season.
 
Senior setter Kayla Ostrom is splitting responsibilities with freshman Morgan Elmore in Lipscomb's new system. Ostrom is sixth in assists overall in the ASUN with 7.13 per set.
 
The Bisons have bested the Eagles in 14-of-18 meetings all time. The last time FGCU downed Lipscomb was during a 2012 sweep at Allen Arena in Nashville.
 
RPI TOP 100
This week, the NCAA released its first RPI ratings of the 2016 season. FGCU leads all ASUN programs with a rating of 63, while Lipscomb is ranked 82nd. The Eagles and the Bisons are the only ASUN members to break the top 100.
 
UP NEXT
The Green and Blue return home next weekend to face Jacksonville on Friday, Oct. 14 at 6 p.m. before taking on North Florida at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 15.
 
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 56-24 (.700) record, including a 24-7 (.774) 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.