NEWARK, N.J. – An historic regular season came to a roaring end for the FGCU volleyball team with a resounding 3-0 (25-22, 25-17, 25-16) victory over NJIT Sunday afternoon. The Eagles improved to 25-5 on the year (11-3 ASUN), while the Highlanders dropped to 11-22 and 2-12 in conference action.
 
The victory extended FGCU's Division-I program record single-season total. The Eagles will be the No. 3 seed in the ASUN Conference Championship and take on 6th-seeded Jacksonville (9-18, 5-9 ASUN) in the opening round Thursday, Nov. 17, in Nashville at 8:30 p.m. Eastern (7:30 local).
 
With a win, FGCU would advance to face 2nd-seeded Kennesaw State (18-10, 12-2 ASUN) in the semifinals on Friday. Host Lipscomb (20-7, 12-2 ASUN) earned the top seed, and like the Owls received a bye into the semifinals where it will meet either 4th-seeded North Florida (18-13, 8-6 ASUN) or 5th-seeded USC Upstate (13-18, 5-9 ASUN).
 
A dominant defensive effort was the key for FGCU's 25th victory of the season, holding the Highlanders to a .000 hitting percentage. Daniele Serrano (Sanford, Fla./Seminole HS), Maggie Rick (Alpharetta, Ga./Blessed Trinity Catholic HS) and Leigh Pudwill (Lino Lakes, Minn./Centennial HS/Northern Iowa) led the FGCU net defense while Karissa Rhoades (Valrico, Fla./Bloomingdale Senior HS) recorded 13 digs on the afternoon.
 
"Daniele was excellent at the net, and made some smart decisions today as an attacker," said FGCU head coach Matt Botsford of Serrano's outstanding .778 hitting percentage as she recorded seven kills in her nine attack attempts. "Leigh continues to play at a high level, and I liked the versatility she showed this afternoon from both the left and right side of the court."
 
The Eagles and Highlanders played a tight opening set, but the Green and Blue led from the first point. A 5-1 run gave the visitors a 15-10 lead, and the Eagles held off a late rally to secure a 25-22 victory. The Highlanders responded with fast start in the second set, opening up an 8-4 lead. A 9-0 run, however, turned the tables for the Green and Blue, who jumped in front, 13-8, before a 9-2 run all but sealed the 25-17 second-set win. With the third set tied at 7-7, FGCU utilized a 10-2 run to take control, paving the way for Marlene Moeller (Lüdinghausen, Germany/Pascal Gymnasium) to end the match with a 25-16 third set win.
 
Pudwill led the Eagles with nine kills, while Amanda Carroll (Albuquerque, N.M./Sandia HS) and Giovanna Borgiotti (Vienna, Va./ George C. Marshall HS) each had six kills. Rick secured a game-high-tying 23 assists as the Eagles posted their ninth sweep in conference play and fourth on the road.
 
"I'm pleased with the road sweep and excited to be moving into the postseason," added Botsford. "Our focus now is finding a way to extend our season every chance we get. This has been a season of firsts for our program, and this team is eager to continue that trend."
 
The Eagles wasted little time in jumping on the Highlanders as they raced out to an 8-2 lead in the first set following consecutive service aces by Rhoades. NJIT responded and pulled to within one point, 10-9, but FGCU won five of the next six points to open up the aforementioned 15-10 advantage which they maintained most of the rest of the set.
 
In the second set, the 9-0 run started with the Eagles trailing, 8-4. The three kills in the run all came from Borgiotti as FGCU was able to turn the four-point deficit into a 13-8 advantage. The Highlanders pulled to within two, 14-12, but the Green and Blue claimed seven of the next nine points to open up a 21-14 lead which was never challenged.
 
The 10-2 run in the third set started with a Borgiotti kill, and she added another one during the stretch before NJIT eventually called a timeout down 17-9. That margin was plenty for the Eagles, who swept the Highlanders for the second time this year.
 
The 25 victories move FGCU to within four of tying and five of breaking the all-time program record set in 2006 (29). FGCU can match, and surpass, the 27 victories from the 2005 squad in the ASUN Championship as those two teams are the only ones with more wins than the 2016 Eagles.
 
FGCU will now shift its focus to Jacksonville and the ASUN Championship opener on Thursday. The Eagles swept the Dolphins twice this year, winning all six sets by at least six points.
 
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 65-27 (.707) record, including a 32-10 (.762) 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.