Teams: FGCU (23-5, 9-3), USC Upstate (12-17, 4-8), NJIT (10-21, 1-11)
Coaches: Matt Botsford: (3rd season @ FGCU – 63-27; same overall) | Jennifer Calloway (21st season @ USC Upstate – 337-328; same overall) | Peter Volkert (3rd season @ NJIT – 29-68; 21st overall – 377-354)
Match 1: FGCU at USC Upstate: Friday, Nov. 11 | 6 PM | G.B. Hodge Center
Links: LIVE STATS | WATCH
Match 2: FGCU at NJIT: Sunday, Nov. 13 | 1 PM | Estelle and Zoom Fleisher Athletic Center
Links: LIVE STATS | WATCH
 
SPARTANBURG, S.C.– The FGCU volleyball team will finish its regular season slate on the road this weekend with matches against USC Upstate and NJIT. The Green and Blue will face Spartans on Friday, Nov. 11 at 6 p.m. before traveling to New Jersey for a 1 p.m. match against the Highlanders.
 
With a 9-3 conference record, the Eagles have secured a spot in the ASUN postseason and are still eligible for a first round bye, but would need losses from both Lipscomb and Kennesaw State who are currently tied at 10-2. The Spartans have also earned themselves a spot, while NJIT will be sitting this year out.
 
THE GREEN AND BLUE
After dethroning ASUN leader Kennesaw State last weekend, the Eagles are just one win away from setting a new Division I program record for most wins in a single season. FGCU is also just one shutout away from tying a DI record with 16 sweeps so far this year.
 
The Eagles possess the most efficient offense in the in the ASUN, as their .273 hitting percentage ranks 13th in the country. Setter Maggie Rick (Alpharetta, Ga./Blessed Trinity Catholic HS) leads the conference with 10.70 assists per set and is one of three ASUN setters to top the 1,000-assist mark so far this season.
 
Amanda Carroll (Albuquerque N.M./Sandia HS) leads the ASUN and ranks 19th in the nation with 5.0 points per set. The sophomore hitter also ranks top-five in the conference in kills per set, hitting percentage and aces per set.
 
Junior libero Courtney Stephens (Winter Park Fla./Winter Park HS) has facilitated the floor defense through the majority of the season, however sophomore Karissa Rhoades (Valrico, Fla./Bloomingdale Senior HS) has sported the odd-colored jersey in a handful of recent matches.
 
The Eagles have never lost to USC Upstate or NJIT, going 13-0 and 3-0 against the two respective squads.
 
SCOUTING USC Upstate
The Spartans 3-0 win over North Florida on Saturday secured the team's first ever appearance in the ASUN postseason. Setter Madison Haake became the third ASUN player to hit 1,000 assists on the year behind Rick and Kennesaw State's Kristi Piedimonte, after posting 37 in the win.
 
Senior Emily Koelling leads the attack for USC Upstate this season with a team-high 282 kills on the year. Koelling has been aided by sophomore Callie Yeargin who follows closely behind with 259.
 
Defensively, the Spartans lead the ASUN with 1,980 digs on the season. Junior libero Kaleigh Kelley owns a conference-high 517 on the year.
 
SCOUTING NJIT
NJIT tallied its 10th win of the season against Delaware State on Tuesday, earning its fourth shutout victory of the season. However, losses to Jacksonville and North Florida over the weekend ended the Highlanders chances of sneaking into the playoffs.
 
The Highlanders defense is allowing an average hitting percentage of just .197 to opponents, but NJIT has struggled with their offensive efficiency throughout the season, hitting just .148 as a unit.
 
Sophomore libero Adriana Nieto has collected 455 digs on the season – good for third in the conference. She also ranks second in the ASUN with 36 service aces on the year. Senior
 
Katarzyna Klocek leads the Highlanders offense with 2.75 kills per set and has recorded 14 double-digit performances this season.
 
UP NEXT
With the regular season coming to an end, the Eagles will head to Nashville for the ASUN Conference Championship, which takes place from Thursday, Nov. 17 to Saturday, Nov. 19. Matchups will be set at the conclusion of regular season play.
 
ASUN STANDINGS
School                 ASUN  Overall
* Lipscomb           10-2    18-7
* KSU                   10-2    16-10
* FGCU                 9-3      23-5
* UNF                    8-4      18-11
* JU                       5-7      9-16
* USC Upstate      4-8      12-17
NJIT                      1-11    10-21
Stetson                 1-11    4-23
* - Clinched a spot in ASUN Championship
 
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 63-27 (.700) record, including a 30-10 (.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