DELAND, Fla. – Hoping to continue its momentum from the season-opener, the FGCU beach volleyball team dropped its opening matches of Atlantic Sun play Friday. FGCU (1-2) claimed an early lead against Jacksonville (2-3) but fell 3-2 to open the day. The Eagles then lost 4-1 to No. 9 Stetson (10-1) in the finale.

"I was really pleased with the way Madi and Elisa played," said head coach Matt Botsford. "They were both so consistent throughout the day. They played with quality ball control and really high energy. Caroline and Marlene also stood out today and I think they complimented each other well on the court. Collectively we just didn't set as well as we typically do and that put a lot of pressure on our third contact. Overall I see a lot of good things happening out there but the key is going to be stabilizing ball control for longer periods throughout each match."

JACKSONVILLE 3, FGCU 2
For the second match in a row, the Eagles wasted no time claiming first set wins at both No. 4 and No. 5. The pairing of Elisa Anne Aldrich (Charleston, S.C./Wando High School) and Madi Wilcox (Mundelein, IL/Mundelein High School) stormed to a 21-12 first set win over Jessica Armstrong and Madi Bright. Moments later, Caroline Jordan (Orlando, Fla./William R Boone High School) and Marlene Moeller (Lüdinghausen, Germany/Pascal Gymnasium) gained control of the match at No. 4 with a 21-14 first set win against Shelby Babowicz and Olga Nushtayeva. Wilcox and Aldrich kept their second set close, before pulling away late to give FGCU a 1-0 lead in the match with a 21-17 victory. Jordan and Moeller battled in their second set, finally pulling away with a 23-21 win to give FGCU a 2-0 lead in the match.

FGCU however had its momentum slowed, as the top three pairings dropped the first set on each of the three courts. Eleonora Kazarian (Tibilisi, Georgia/College of Central Florida) and Vanessa Benke (Toledo, Brazil/College of Central Florida) fell 21-14, 21-14 at No. 1 to Kelly Koop and Mayara Prestes. Cristina Finan and Mackenzie Swan defeated Mackenzie Allen (Naples, Fla./Gulf Coast High School) and Karissa Rhoades (Valrico, Fla./Bloomingdale Senior High School) at No. 2, 21-13, 21-15. FGCU fell at No. 3 when the duo of Ashley Glickert (Chesterfield, Mo/Parkway Central High School) and Katherine Puisis (Mason, Ohio/William Mason High School) dropped a close 21-18, 21-19 match as FGCU fell 3-2.

FULL RESULTS
1) Prestes/Koop (JU) def. Benke/Kazarian (FGCU) 21-14, 21-14
2) Swan/Finan (JU) def. Allen/Rhoades (FGCU) 21-13, 21-15
3) Laskelle/Krawczyk (JU) def. Glickert/Puisis (FGCU) 21-18, 21-19
4) Jordan/Moeller (FGCU) def. Babowicz/Nushtayeva (JU) 21-18, 23-21
5) Aldrich/Wilcox (FGCU) def. Armstrong/Bright (JU) 21-12, 21-17
Order of Finish: (5, 4, 1, 2, 3)

No. 9 STETSON 4, FGCU 1
The Eagles split the opening pair of matches against the No. 9 Hatters with Aldrich and Wilcox defeating Jamie Walsh and Alexa Richardson 21-15, 21-16. Meanwhile, Jordan and Moeller pushed Madison Akins and Lauren Durham in the first set, falling 21-18. The Eagle duo wasn't able to slow down the Hatter pairing in the second set, losing 21-14.

At No. 3, Puisis and Glickert fell to Emily Carroll and Kaylee Anderson 21-12, 21-9. Trailing 2-1, Allen and Rhoades battled at No. 2, dropping the first set 21-15. Despite a strong effort in the second set, the pairing lost by the same 21-15 score line.

Benke and Kazarian lost to Sara Putt and Vendy Strakova 21-9, 21-13 to bring the final tally to 4-1 in favor of Stetson.

FULL RESULTS
1) Putt/Strakova (SU) def. Benke/Kazarian (FGCU) 21-9, 21-13
2) Lind/Noble (SU) def. Allen/Rhoades (FGCU) 21-15/21-15
3) Carroll/Anderson (SU) def. Glickert/Puisis (FGCU) 21-12, 21-9
4) Akins/Durham (SU) def. Jordan/Moeller (FGCU) 21-18, 21-14
5) Wilcox/Aldrich (FGCU) def. Walsh/Richardson (SU) 21-15, 21-16
Order of Finish: (4, 5, 3, 2, 1)

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_BeachVB.
 
COACH BOTSFORD
Head coach Matt Botsford is in his second year at the helm of the FGCU volleyball program and his teams have combined for an overall 40-22 (.645) record, including a 21-7 (.750) mark in A-Sun play. In his inaugural season, the Eagles finished with a record of 19-11 with a second-place finish in the A-Sun. Botsford has also coached 10 All-Conference selections in just two seasons at FGCU. 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. Botsford is a former professional volleyball player and is a 1998 graduate of Tri-State University, where he earned a degree in Social Studies Education. He earned a master's degree in Business Administration from the University of Indianapolis.