EMERSON, Ga. – The road to the first-ever NCAA beach volleyball tournament became a bit tougher for the FGCU beach volleyball team with a 4-1 loss to top-seeded Stetson Saturday afternoon. The Eagles will now play UNF Sunday at 11 a.m. with the winner advancing to play the Hatters in the championship. FGCU falls to 11-7 on the year while Stetson improves to 28-6.

"Between the wind and the service pressure put on by Stetson, we had a difficult time as a team managing our first and second contact," said head coach Matt Botsford. "That really limited what we could do offensively and Stetson did a great job taking advantage. Our focus now has shifted back to UNF. I expect that all our teams will make the necessary adjustments as we play for an opportunity to get into the championship match."

Searching for their first appearance in the A-Sun tournament championship, the Eagles fell behind early, with a 21-11, 21-11 loss at No. 5. Leigh Pudwill (Lino Lakes, Minn./Centennial High School/Northern Iowa) and Katherine Puisis (Mason, Ohio/William Mason High School) lost to Jamie Walsh and Alexa Richardson at that spot to put the Hatters in front 1-0.

The deficit grew to 2-0 when Vanessa Benke (Toledo, Brazil/College of Central Florida) and Eleonora Kazarian (Tibilisi, Georgia/College of Central Florida) lost to the A-Sun Pair of the Year, Sara Putt and Vendy Strakova 21-15, 21-14.

Amanda Carroll (Albuquerque, N.M./Sandia High School) and Mackenzie Allen (Naples, Fla./Gulf Coast High School) dropped a 21-17, 21-16 decision at No. 2 to Emily Carroll and Kaylee Anderson. Elisa Anne Aldrich (Charleston, S.C./Wando High School) and Madi Wilcox (Mundelein, Ill./Mundelein High School) bounced back from a 21-14 first set loss to claim the next two sets 21-18, 15-13 for FGCU's lone victory of the afternoon.

Ashley Glickert (Chesterfield, Mo./Parkway Central High School) and Karissa Rhoades (Valrico, Fla./Bloomingdale Senior High School) fell at No. 3 21-18, 21-17 to Kristin Lind and Tiffany Creamer to complete the 4-1 score line.

FGCU and UNF will meet tomorrow at 11 a.m. for the right to play for the A-Sun Tournament title.

FULL RESULTS
1) Putt/Strakova (Stetson) def. Kazarian/Benke (FGCU) 21-15, 21-14
2) Carroll/Anderson (Stetson) def. Carroll/Allen (FGCU) 21-17, 21-16
3) Lind/Creamer (Stetson) def. Glickert/Rhoades (FGCU) 21-18, 21-17
4) Aldrich/Wilcox (FGCU) def. Akins/Noble (Stetson) 14-12, 21-18, 15-13
5) Walsh/Richardson (Stetson) def. Pudwill/Puisis (FGCU) 21-11, 21-11
Order of Finish not reported

FOLLOW ALONG
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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.