NASHVILLE, Tenn. – A Division I NCAA Tournament berth continues to elude the FGCU volleyball program, as the Eagles fell 3-1 (25-16, 25-23, 17-25, 25-23) to first-seeded Lipscomb on Saturday, Nov. 19 in the ASUN Tournament finals. The Green and Blue produced a historic season nonetheless, setting a DI record with 27 wins. FGCU ends the season at 27-6 (11-3 ASUN), while Lipscomb moves on with a record of 22-7 (12-2 ASUN).
 
"I am so proud of this team for what they were able to accomplish this year," said head coach Matt Botsford. They have set a new standard for this program and have created a culture of winning that will propel us to even greater heights in the future. Every one of these young women has contributed to this historic season, and I am so thankful for their effort and commitment to our team."
 
While the outcome was unfavorable, the Green and Blue put up an admirable fight, stifling the Bisons' offense with an incredible 18.5 blocks, which marks the most in a single match for the Eagles in the DI era and fourth-most in program history. FGCU's defense, led by libero Karissa Rhoades (Valrico, Fla./Bloomingdale Senior HS), also managed contain ASUN Player of the Year Carlyle Nusbaum, holding the Bisons' most dangerous offensive weapon to a season-low .043 hitting percentage.
 
"Tonight was a gritty performance against a very talented Lipscomb team," continued Botsford. "The first set was a very one-sided affair, but as I have grown accustom to seeing, we came out in set two with a renewed focus. Even though we were struggling on the offensive end, the team found other ways to impact the match in our favor and it started with serving and blocking. That was by far the best blocking performance I've seen in my time here at FGCU. We were able to turn things around after the break, but ultimately at the end of the fourth set, Lipscomb's floor defense took over. While we are all disappointed with the final result, we gave everything we had and competed in a way that we can all be proud of."
 
Freshman Daniele Serrano (Sanford, Fla./Seminole HS) led the Eagles' block party with nine stoppers, while senior Leigh Pudwill (Lino Lakes, Minn./Centennial HS/Northern Iowa) and fellow rookie Giovanna Borgiotti (Vienna, Va./George C. Marshall HS) reached season-highs with six each. Serrano's 107.0 blocks on the year ranks fourth all-time by an Eagle in a single season.
 
ASUN Setter of the Year Maggie Rick (Alpharetta, Ga./Blessed Trinity Catholic HS) finished the night with 35 assists on FGCU's 40 kills. Benefitting from Rick's setting was sophomore hitter Amanda Carroll (Albuquerque N.M./Sandia HS) who tallied a team-high 12 kills, bringing her career total to an even 900, which is the third-most all-time by an Eagle. Both Rick and Carroll were named to the All-Tournament Team for their impressive post-season performances.
 
For seniors Pudwill, Marlene Moeller (Lüdinghausen, Germany/Pascal Gymnasium), Caroline Jordan (Orlando, Fla./William R. Boone HS) and Marina Adami (Caxias Do Sul, Brazil/College of Central Florida), tonight's match was their final battle in an FGCU jersey. The veteran squad combined for 622 points this season, which accounts for over one third of the Eagles' points on the year.
 
"I'd like to say thank you to our seniors for all they have done and for the legacy they will be leaving behind," Botsford said. "They have been and joy to coach and will be sorely missed. Their leadership and commitment to our vision was a major factor in our team's success."
 
In the first set, Lipscomb was quick out of the gate. The teams traded the first four points, but the Bisons followed with three-straight scores, forcing FGCU to take a quick timeout. Borgiotti stepped it up on the defensive side with a pair of solo blocks to get the Eagles right back in it. FGCU used kills from Carroll and Moeller to bring the set to 18-15, but faltered defensively allowing six-straight score from the Bisons that resulted in a 16-25 loss in the set.
 
Much like the first set, the Eagles and Bisons were locked in a 7-7 tie through the early stages of the second round of play. After allowing Lipscomb to a .412 hitting percentage in the first game, the Green and Blue recorded five blocks in the second and held the Bisons to a .132 hitting percentage. Down 14-8, FGCU rattled off five straight-points with a pair of kills from Carroll, to cut the Bisons' lead to one. Following an attack error from Nusbaum, FGCU tied it at 23, but back-to-back kills from Racich and Phillips put the set away and gave Lipscomb a 2-0 lead.

FGCU jumped ahead early in the third after a five point run gave the Eagles a 7-2 lead. The Green and Blue were once again disruptive along the net, as Pudwill and Serrano teamed up for 5.5 total blocks. Defensive pressure eventually turned into offensive production as FGCU hit .346 in the game and held Lipscomb to just .086. The Eagles ended the set with a kill from Moeller to extend their season and bring the score to 2-1.

The Green and Blue fell behind 5-2 early in the fourth set, but used five straight points to take a 7-5 lead. Multiple Lipscomb errors helped the Eagles increase their lead to five by a score of 18-13. Four-straight Bisons points put Lipscomb right back in it, and at 24-23 the Bisons captured a final point off a kill from Cloe Rodgers to end the match in four.
 
ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
*Carlyle Nusbaum, Lipscomb - MVP
 *Amanda Carroll, FGCU#
 Maggie Rick, FGCU
 Anaiah Boyer, Kennesaw State#
 Kayla Ostrom, Lipscomb#
 Taylor Racich, Lipscomb
 Brittany Thomas, Lipscomb
 
* - Denotes unanimous selection
 # - Denotes second selection
 
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 67-28 (.705) record, including a 32-11 (.744) 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.