NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The FGCU volleyball team (17-3, 4-1) capped off what might be its toughest road trip of the season with a 3-0 (25-14, 25-18, 25-18) win over ASUN Conference foe Lipscomb (10-6, 3-2) on Saturday night. The victory marks the first time the Eagles have downed the Bisons since 2012 and the 12th time FGCU has shut out an opponent this season. Lipscomb, which entered this year as the ASUN's preseason favorite, has only been swept one other time this season by #25 Kentucky. This is the first time in 2016 that the Bisons have been kept under 20 points in every set of a match.
 
The Eagles electric offense was back in full force tonight, as setter Maggie Rick (Alpharetta, Ga./Blessed Trinity Catholic HS) helped the team to an impressive .383 hitting percentage and tallied 32 assists on the Eagles' 43 kills.
 
Sophomore Amanda Carroll (Albuquerque, N.M./Sandia HS) led the attack for the Green and Blue with 15 kills and averaged a .500 hitting percentage for the first time this season and third time in her career. Carroll also added 11 digs to her box score, marking her seventh double-double of 2016.
 
Senior Leigh Pudwill (Lino Lakes, Minn./Northern Iowa/Centennial HS) and freshman Daniele Serrano (Sanford, Fla./Seminole HS) also recorded .400-plus hitting percentages with .400 and .444 respectively.
 
Defensively, FGCU gave one of its most impressive performances of the year. Junior libero Courtney Stephens (Winter Park, Fla./Winter Park HS) orchestrated a floor defense that held the Bisons to a hitting percentage of .135 – their second lowest of the season. The only team to keep a tighter grip on Lipscomb's dynamic offense this year was the Big Ten's Northwestern who held the Bisons to .113. Stephens tallied 16 digs on the night and added an ace from the service line.
 
The Eagles showed true resilience in tonight's match, bouncing back from a tough Friday night contest against Kennesaw State. After committing 31 errors against the Owls, FGCU held it in check tonight, producing only seven and forcing 21 from Lipscomb. This is the fourth time in 2016 that the Eagles have stayed under 10 errors in a single match.
 
"I'm really pleased with our overall performance today, and I love the way each of our players found a way to contribute," said head coach Matt Botsford. "The offense was back in rhythm, and Maggie did a great job distributing. As good as we played from the offensive side of the ball, I think the defense made the difference. Courtney was excellent all night and has really elevated her game. All of our floor defenders were engaged and making the plays necessary to give us a chance to transition into some productive swings."
 
The Eagles jumped out to a 10-4 lead in the first set before Lipscomb was forced to call a timeout. Kills from freshman Giovanna Borgiotti (Vienna, Va./George C. Marshall HS) and senior Marlene Moeller (Ludinghausen, Germany/Pascal Gymnasium) followed as the teams split the next eight points. The Bisons used their second timeout after an attack error put FGCU ahead 16-8. A three-point run that included a Borgiotti service ace increased the Eagles lead to 11. After three more Bisons errors, FGCU captured the set 25-14.
 
Lipscomb got off to a quicker start in the second set, tallying seven of the first 10 points. After an Eagles timeout, the Bison extended their lead to six. Trailing 11-5, FGCU went on a dominating 10-point run that included kills from Carroll, Pudwill, Serrano and Borgiotti as well as a service ace from Rick to take a 15-11 lead. The next 10 points were split between the two teams. Three more consecutive scores for FGCU gave the Eagles a 24-17 advantage. A kill from Carroll ended the set 25-18, giving the Green and Blue a 2-0 advantage in the match.
 
FGCU took an early lead in the third set until three consecutive Lipscomb scores gave the Bisons an 11-10 advantage. After an Eagles timeout, FGCU scored five of the next six points. Another four-point run for the Green and Blue forced Lipscomb to take a timeout, as they trailed by six scores. When play resumed, the Eagles continued to roll taking a 23-14 advantage. Lipscomb responded by capturing four of the next five points, but a Bisons attack error ended the set and the match in favor of the Green and Blue.
 
UP NEXT
The Eagles are back at the nest this weekend for back-to-back conference matches against Florida foes. FGCU will face Jacksonville on Friday, Oct. 14th before taking on North Florida on Saturday, Oct. 15th. Both matches begin at 6 p.m.
 
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 57-25 (.695) record, including a 25-8 (.758) 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.