ATHENS, OHIO – On the final day of the Bobcat Invitational, FGCU volleyball swept host Ohio in its first match, but dropped a four-set match to No. 22 Western Kentucky to end the tournament. The Eagles are now 1-2 on the season, while Ohio sits at 0-3 and Western Kentucky climbs to 3-0.
 
During its first match, FGCU dominated both offensively and defensively hitting .303 and limiting their opponents to just .078. The Eagles also managed to limit their errors, committing 12 to Ohio's 24.  FGCU recorded 12 service aces in the match, with a career-high six coming from sophomore Amanda Carroll (Albuquerque, N.M./Sandia HS).  The last time an FGCU player tallied six service aces was on Aug. 27, 2011 when Jill Hopper amassed seven at N.C. Central. Carroll led the team's attack recording 14 kills, while fellow sophomore Maggie Rick (Alpharetta Ga./Blessed Trinity Catholic HS) paced the offensive with 32 assists.
 
The Eagles started the morning with a 25-11 set victory over the Bobcats, who earned an NCAA Tournament berth last season. Ohio came out stronger in the second set but fell to FGCU 25-22. In the third set, the Eagles held the Bobcats to a hitting percentage of -.071 and ended the match with a 25-14 set win.
 
"I'm really pleased with our quality of play today," said head coach Matt Botsford following the match. "The offense was clicking and we got contributions from all of our hitters. Maggie did an excellent job keeping everyone involved, and Karissa Rhoades made a big impact out of the back row. This is a big win for our program against a quality opponent from outside our conference."
 
In the second match of the day, FGCU got off to a slow start and dropped the first set to Western Kentucky 25-12. The Eagles rallied in the second set, but ultimately fell 25-23 to the Lady Toppers after six lead changes. FGCU edged out Western Kentucky 25-20 in the third set by dominating offensively with a hitting percentage of .400 to the Bobcats .152. The Eagles exchanged points with the Lady Toppers throughout the fourth set before pulling ahead 25-24, but failed to close as Western Kentucky ended the set 28-26.
 
Carroll and freshman Ciara DeBell (Ocala, Fla./Vanguard HS) each recorded more than 10 kills in the match. Senior Marina Adami (Caxias Do Sul, Brazil, College of Central Florida) saw her first action of the season and provided a lift off the bench with nine assists, two kills and two digs.
 
"We made some lineup changes in the second set that allowed us to be more physical, and I liked our team's response," said Botsford. "Marina provided a new look when she came in, and we were able to create a little more space offensively. Ultimately, we just couldn't get enough defensive stops to push it into a fifth set."
 
OHIO
 
FGCU captured the first five points of its opening set against the Bobcats. Ohio got on the board with a kill by senior Jamie Kosiorek. Multiple Ohio errors and a service ace by Carroll increased FGCU's lead to nine.  After two service aces by Rick and a kill from DeBell pushed the score to 19-6, Ohio was forced to take a timeout. Bobcats senior Katelyn Burke provided a service ace for Ohio out of the timeout, but FGCU continued to apply pressure and ended the set at 25-11 with a kill from senior Leigh Pudwill (Lino Lakes, Minn./Centennial HS/Northern Iowa) followed by an Ohio error. Four different Eagles recorded service aces in the set.
 
The Bobcats started off strong in the second set, scoring nine of the first 12 points. At that point, FGCU subbed in Rhoades (Valrico, Fla./Bloomingdale Senior HS) who assisted Carroll on a kill that sparked the Eagles offense. Nine of the next 10 points went to the Eagles including three service aces in four plays from Carroll, forcing Ohio to take another timeout. FGCU continued to run the court out of the timeout with four more consecutive points before a service error ended the streak. With FGCU up 17-11, the teams split the next fourteen points. With the Eagles one point away from a set victory, Ohio went on a four-point run, until a service error ended the set 25-22 in favor of FGCU.
 
The Eagles came out hot again in the third set. After taking a 6-3 lead, FGCU went on a six-point streak featuring two kills by senior Marlene Moeller (Ludinghausen, Germany/Pascal Gymnasium) and a service ace from Carroll – her sixth of the night. The Bobcats answered with four consecutive points of their own, narrowing the gap to 12-7. The teams split the next 10 points. After an Ohio kill by freshman Lizzie Stephens, the Eagles went on another run, this time for seven points, that included a service ace from Rhoades – the second of her career. After an FGCU service error, Carroll pounded down the match point and ended the set 25-14.
 
WESTERN KENTUCKY
 
The Eagles struggled to gain momentum at the beginning of their second match. FGCU recorded eight kills to Western Kentucky's 18 and allowed a hitting percentage of .586 in the set. After falling behind 4-2, the Eagles exchanged the next eight points with the Lady Toppers. Following a kill by Lady Toppers sophomore Rachel Anderson, Western Kentucky captured eight of the next 12 points, increasing the score to 17-11. The Lady Toppers began to run the court, as the Eagles were only able to score one more point before a service ace ended the set at 25-12 in favor of the Western Kentucky.
 
Despite their early struggles, the Eagles came out fighting in the second set. The teams swapped points, with FGCU trailing closely behind Western Kentucky early on. The Lady Toppers saw their biggest lead of the night when a kill by sophomore Taylor Dellinger pushed the score to 15-10. FGCU captured the next four consecutive points, bringing the score back within two. After two errors tied the score at 17 all, the Lady Toppers called a timeout. A kill by Rhoades gave FGCU a 1-point lead that was quickly answered by two Western Kentucky points. After splitting the next eight points, the Lady Toppers took a 1-point lead with an Anderson kill. With the score at 24-23, an attack error cost FGCU the set.
 
The Eagles got off to another strong start in the third set, despite a two-set deficit. With the score at 4-2 in favor of the Eagles, another Carroll kill sparked an eight point run for FGCU. The streak caused Western Kentucky to take their second timeout of the set. The Lady Toppers captured 10 of the next 14 points coming out of the timeout. With their 10-point lead cut to three, the Eagles pounded down back-to-back kills. The teams split the next 14 points, as FGCU held onto its five-point lead. Two kills by the Lady Toppers brought Western Kentucky back within three points. The Eagles answered with kill from freshman Daniele Serrano (Sanford Fla./Seminole HS) and a service ace from senior Caroline Jordan (Orlando Fla./William R. Boone) that ended the set 25-20 in favor of FGCU.
 
Western Kentucky drew first blood in the fourth set with a kill from junior Alyssa Cavanaugh. After an exchange of points, the Lady Toppers took a 5-2 lead with a three-point run. The Eagles regained control with kills from Carroll and DeBell and a service ace from Rhoades that gave FGCU a one-point lead. The Lady Toppers capitalized on three consecutive FGCU errors and regained the lead 14-11. The teams split the next eight points until two Western Kentucky errors put FGCU back within one-point. The Eagles pulled ahead once again at 21-20 with a kill from Adami. Western Kentucky answered with three consecutive points. The final FGCU lead came from a Western Kentucky error that put the Eagles up 25-24. FGCU failed capture the final match point and instead fell to the Lady Toppers 28-26.
 
UP NEXT
 
The Eagles will open up at home next weekend with the FGCU Hilton Garden Inn Invitational at Alico Arena. FGCU begins tournament play against Delaware at 6 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 2. On Saturday, Sept. 3, the Eagles will take on New Orleans at 10 a.m. before finishing off weekend play against VCU at 7 p.m.
 
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 enters his third year at the helm of the FGCU volleyball program.  His teams have combined for an overall 40-22 (.645) record, including a 21-7 (.750) 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.