Teams: FGCU (22-4, 8-2 ASUN), Lipscomb (16-7, 8-2), Kennesaw State (15-9, 9-1)
Coaches: Matt Botsford: (3rd season @ FGCU – 62-26; same overall) | Brandon Rosenthal (13th season @ Lipscomb – 258-169; same overall) | Keith Schunzel (4th season @ Kennesaw State – 57-54; same overall)
Match 1: FGCU vs. Lipscomb: Friday, Nov. 4 | 6 PM | Alico Arena
Links: LIVE STATS | WATCH | TICKETS
Match 2: FGCU vs. Kennesaw State: Saturday, Nov. 5 | 6 PM | Alico Arena
Links: LIVE STATS | WATCH | TICKETS
 
FORT MYERS, Fla. – The FGCU volleyball team faces stiff competition at Alico Arena this weekend as it hosts two of the ASUN's top-three units. The Eagles will face Lipscomb on Friday, Nov. 4 before turning their attention to KSU on Saturday, Nov. 5. Both matches begin at 6 p.m.
 
After sweeping JU last weekend, the Eagles have collected 22 wins and 16 shutouts on the year, putting them just one shy of a program record in both categories. FGCU enters the weekend undefeated at home in 2016.
 
Fans can catch a live broadcast of both matches via ASUN TV. Live stats will also be available from StatBroadcast. For those looking to attend the events and support your FGCU Eagles, tickets can be purchased online at FGCUTickets.com or by calling the university's ticket office at 239-590-7145.
 
SENIOR SEND-OFF
Saturday's match against Kennesaw State will mark the final home contest for seniors Caroline Jordan, Marina Adami, Marlene Moeller and Leigh Pudwill. Over the past four years, they have helped the team to 76 wins including an impressive 38-18 conference record.
 
As a four-year letterwinner for FGCU, Jordan (Orlando, Fla./William R Boone HS) has seen action in 112 matches and nearly 400 sets. The defensive specialist has tallied 257 digs in her career and has provided a lift from the service line with more than 20 service aces in each of her last three seasons.
 
Adami (Caxias Do Sul, Brazil/ College of Central Florida) began her career at the College of Central Florida, but transferred to FGCU following her sophomore season. As an Eagle, the Brazilian native has seen time in 34 matches and 51 sets. She enters the weekend with 40 assists and 10 digs on the year.
 
In her four years with the Eagles, Moeller (Lüdinghausen, Germany/Pascal Gymnasium) has provided pressure along the net both offensively and defensively. The middle block started every match of both her junior and senior campaigns and currently owns the highest hitting percentage in the ASUN with a .355.
 
Pudwill (Lino Lakes, Minn./ Centennial HS/Northern Iowa) transferred to FGCU after two seasons at Northern Iowa. During her time with the Eagles, the outside hitter has recorded more than 500 kills, more than 300 digs and more than 100 blocks. As a junior, she posted the second-best single match performance in FGCU history with 27 kills against Lipscomb.
 
PROMOTIONS
FGCU vs. Lipscomb: Bring your little ones to the game for Youth Night! Kids are invited to attend the match for free. Fans are encouraged to wear white to Friday's match.
FGCU vs. Kennesaw State: In addition to senior night festivities, we would like to show appreciation to our hardworking faculty members by inviting them to attend Saturday's match for free. Fans are encouraged to wear green.
 
THE GREEN AND BLUE
The Eagles enter their final home contests of 2016 after splitting last weekend with a five-set loss to North Florida and a 3-0 win over Jacksonville. Its shutout over JU allowed the team to reach the 22-win mark for the third time in the program's Division I history.
 
FGCU possesses one of the most efficient offenses in the NCAA, ranking first in the ASUN and 13th in the nation with a .277 hitting percentage. The Eagles' offense is paced by setter Maggie Rick (Alpharetta, Ga./Blessed Trinity Catholic HS), who owns a conference-high 10.73 assists per set. With 966 assists on the season, Rick is expected to reach 1,000 during this weekend's matches.
 
Sophomore hitter Amanda Carroll (Albuquerque, N.M./Sandia HS) continues to terrorize defenses, scoring an average of 4.97 points per set. She currently leads the ASUN with 4.29 kills per set.  
 
Courtney Stephens (Winter Park, Fla./Winter Park HS) has facilitated the Eagles' floor defense in 2016. So far she's collected for 342 digs on the year, marking a season-high for the junior libero. Stephens also ranks second on the team with 27 service aces.
 
SCOUTING LIPSCOMB
The Bisons are currently tied with the Eagles for second place in the conference. They enter the weekend riding a six-match win streak – the longest active streak in the ASUN.
 
Like FGCU, Lipscomb is known for its offensive prowess. The Bisons rank fourth in the nation in assists per set with 13.64 and sixth in kills per set with 14.56.
 
Outside hitter Carlyle Nusbaum leads the Bisons attack with a conference-high 369 kills on the season, while Brittany Thomas heads up the defense with 345 digs.
 
Lipscomb holds a 5-14 advantage all-time over FGCU, but it was the Eagles who came out victorious earlier this season with a 3-0 victory over the Bisons at Allen Arena.
 
SCOUTING KENNESAW STATE
With a 9-1 ASUN record, the Owls are leading the conference in regular season play. Kennesaw State has seen victories in 13 of 14 matches since early September.
 
Katarina Morton is currently the only player in the ASUN averaging over five digs per set at 5.13. For the season, she is sitting on 471 and only five digs away from matching a season high she set her freshman year.
 
Setter Kristi Piedimonte ranks second in the conference behind Rick with 10.38 assists per set.
 
FGCU holds an 11-6 all-time record with KSU. The Owls were one of just two ASUN teams to defeat the Eagles this season, with a 3-1 victory in Kennesaw, Ga.
 
RPI TOP 100
FGCU earned a ranking of 66 in the latest RPI ratings, which were released on Oct. 31. The Eagles remain the highest ranked team in the ASUN followed by Lipscomb, which came in at 75. Kennesaw State owns a rating of 111.
 
UP NEXT
The Eagles will wrap up regular season play on the road with matches against USC Upstate and NJIT. FGCU will take on the Spartans at 6 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 11th before heading north to face the Highlanders on Sunday, Nov. 13th.
 
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 62-26 (.705) record, including a 29-9 (.763) 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.