SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The FGCU volleyball team (24-5, 10-3 ASUN), knocked off the USC Spartans (12-18, 4-9) to claim a five-set win in its final road trip of the season. With 24 victories on the year, the Eagles set a new Division I program record for wins in a single season. The previous record was set in 2007 at 23 wins. The match was also big night for outside hitter Amanda Carroll (Albuquerque N.M./Sandia HS), who slammed down an outstanding 30 kills on a dominant .528 hit percentage, ranking second in program history behind a 37-kill performance in 2008 by Ana Kokanovic.
 
"Amazing night by Amanda," said Botsford. "That was a pretty special performance in every phase of the game, and we needed every bit of it. Upstate played great, and while our offense was looking pretty good, we had a hard time getting stops. I thought Maggie (Rick) set great and I was really pleased with the boost we got from Leigh (Pudwill) on the backside of the net."
 
Carroll and Pudwill (Lino Lakes, Minn./Centennial HS/Northern Iowa) combined for an impressive 51 kills on only 88 total attacks. Carroll has now recorded over 20 kills on six occasions, and it was Pudwill's 13th time reaching double-digit kills. 
 
Daniele Serrano (Sanford, Fla./Seminole HS) totaled 10 blocks on the night, which ties for the fourth-best blocking performance in school history. As a unit, the Eagles out-blocked the Spartans 13-to-3 along the net.
 
Rick's (Alpharetta, Ga./Blessed Trinity Catholic HS) 64 assists was a season-high for the Eagles setter, who led the ASUN with 10.7 assists entering tonight's match. The sophomore's impressive performance led to an astounding .432 team hitting percentage on the match. Tonight's win marks Rick's 8th 50-plus assist match with the Eagles.
 
The win clinches the third seed in the ASUN Conference tournament for the Eagles, who also stay within one matchof the top two seeds Lipscomb and Kennesaw in the standings.
 
In the first set, the Eagles flew out to a quick 7-2 advantage, highlighted by Carroll who slammed down a kill sandwiched between two service aces. The Green and Blue maintained at least a four-point advantage for the rest of the period before the set ended 25-15.
 
The Spartans came out strong in set two, jumping out to a 5-1 advantage.  The Eagles battled back to tie it up at 12 after back-to-back Carroll service aces. The Spartans went on an 11-2 run to claim a commanding 21-14 lead. The Green and Blue cut the gap with consecutive kills from Rick, Pudwill, Serrano, but it was two little too late as the Spartans evened the match at 1-1.
 
FGCU came out more energized in the third set as they raced out to a 7-0 lead. The Spartans never got back to within six, as Carroll closed the book on USC Upstate tallying the last four kills of the set. The Eagles produced a team hitting percentage of  .714 en route to a 25-12 set win.
 
The fourth set featured four lead changes early in the game until Upstate grabbed a 12-11 advantage, forcing an Eagles timeout. When play resumed, a four-point run from the Spartans gave Upstate a six-point advantage that the Green and Blue couldn't come back from.  The Eagles scored six of the next 10 points, but once again, the Spartans ended the set at 25-21 on a kill from Callie Yeargin.
 
In the fifth and final set, FGCU hopped out to a 7-3 lead with the help of three kills from Pudwill. The Eagles increased their advantage to seven after three-straight kills from Carroll. The Green and Blue ended the set and the match on an attack error by the Spartans, collecting their 24th win of the season.
 
UP NEXT
On Sunday, Nov. 13, FGCU takes on NJIT in its final match of the 2016 regular season. The Eagles have downed the Highlanders in each of the teams' three previous meetings. The first serve is scheduled for 1 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 64-27 (.703) record, including a 31-10 (.756) 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.