KENNESAW, Ga. - The FGCU volleyball team's 15-match win streak came to a close with a 3-1 (25-20, 20-25, 15-25, 20-25) loss to conference foe Kennesaw State. FGCU slipped to 16-3 (3-1 in the ASUN), while the Owls remain undefeated at 4-0 in the conference and climbed to 10-8 on the season. For KSU, the victory extends the team to a nine-match win streak, marking the longest streak in program history.
 
"This is a tough road trip with Kennesaw State and Lipscomb back-to-back, and it was made even tougher by tonight's loss," said head coach Matt Botsford. "We started out that first set really struggling to find a rhythm, but managed to clean things up towards the middle of the game. Unfortunately, KSU turned up their level of production heading into the second set, and we never found an answer. They were tremendous at the net and that had a huge impact on our hitters. They controlled us defensively and managed to keep our hitting numbers down to a point where we couldn't gain momentum."
 
The Eagles, who led the ASUN in hitting percentage going into this weekend, were held to a season-low .103 in tonight's match. Kennesaw State controlled the action around the net with 16 total blocks, disrupting FGCU's powerful offense. Errors plagued the Green and Blue from the service line throughout the match. FGCU's 31 total errors paired with the Owls defensive prowess got the better of the Eagles by the end of the night.
 
Despite a handful of struggles, several individual performances stood out in the match. Even after sitting out last weekend with an injury, sophomore Amanda Carroll (Albuquerque, N.M./Sandia HS) recorded a team-high 16 kills in the Friday night contest. Freshman Giovanna Borgiotti (Vienna, Va./George C. Marshall HS) followed closely behind, collecting 12 kills and adding 10 digs for her second double-double of the season.
 
Sophomore Maggie Rick (Alpharetta, Ga./Blessed Trinity Catholic HS) produced her first double-double of the season with 31 assists and 10 digs in the match. The Eagles setter has had a stellar two-year career so far for the Green and Blue and is already third all-time in assists for the program.
 
Freshman middle block Daniele Serrano (Sanford, Fla./Seminole HS) led the Eagles along the net and reached for a season-high six blocks on the night.
 
Kennesaw State took an early 8-5 lead to start off the first set. FGCU picked up the pace as the game went on and took control with four consecutive scores that included kills from Carroll and Borgiotti. Up 13-10, FGCU capitalized on Owls errors for four more straight scores. With FGCU leading by as many as five points, KSU recovered and closed the gap to two, but the Eagles lead proved too much to overcome as a ball handling error ended the set 25-22 in favor of the Green and Blue.
 
The teams were gridlocked in the second set, as points were exchanged until the score increased to 16-all. Three consecutive Owls scores gave KSU a 19-16 advantage. Gaining momentum, the Owls continued to pull away as a kill from Anaiah Boyer set up a set point for KSU. FGCU responded with a block from Serrano and senior Leigh Pudwill (Lino Lakes, Minn./Northern Iowa/Centennial HS), but an attack error ultimately caused the Eagles to fall 25-20 to the Owls.
 
With the score tied at 1-1, Kennesaw State took control of the third set from the start. The Owls defense along the net began to create a real problem for the Green and Blue, especially with KSU's offense finding a rhythm. The Owls pulled ahead my as much as 12 in the set. Down 23-11, FGCU tallied four of the next five points, but found themselves overpowered and dropped the third set 25-15.
 
Down 2-1, FGCU came out a little stronger in the set four. Once again, KSU kept things tight around the net, but the Eagles were able to land enough hits to tie it up at 12-all. KSU produced four consecutive points to give the Owls an advantage. The Eagles clawed their way back until a service ace from senior Caroline Jordan (Orlando, Fla./William R. Boone HS) tied the score 19-all. A five-point Owls run came at an unfortunate time for the Green and Blue and set up set point for Kennesaw State. A final Carroll kill brought the Eagles within four points from forcing a fifth set, but a kill from KSU's Syndi Shelton pushed the Owls to 25 and ended the match.
 
UP NEXT
The Eagles travel to Nashville on Saturday, Oct. 8 to face Lipscomb in a 6 p.m. (ET) match. The Bisons have bested the Eagles in 14 of 18 meetings all time. The last time FGCU downed Lipscomb was in 2012 with a straight set win at Allen 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 56-25 (.691) record, including a 24-8 (.750) 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.