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BOCA RATON, Fla. – The FGCU volleyball team finished Tulane in three sets (25-17, 27-25, 25-21) during day two of competition at the Owls Classic hosted by FAU. The shutout victory increases the Eagles winning streak to eight and their record to 9-2 – the best start by the team since head coach Matt Botsford took over the program. Of their 11 matches played so far this season, the Green and Blue have swept their opponents in six. Tulane moves to 6-4 following the loss.
 
As a team, FGCU averaged a hitting percentage of .333 and held their competitors to .226. With the help of setter Maggie Rick (Alpharetta, Ga./Blessed Trinity Catholic HS) who tallied 32 assists in the match, the Eagles are the only team in the Atlantic Sun Conference averaging over a .300 hitting percentage.
 
Freshman middle Daniele Serrano (Sanford, Fla./Seminole HS) posted double digit kills for the first time in her Eagles career, slamming down 10 and finishing just behind Sophomore Amanda Carroll (Albuquerque, N.M./Sandia HS) who led the team with 18. Serrano's .643 hitting percentage topped the stats sheet for the Green and Blue.
 
Senior Leigh Pudwill (Lino Lakes, Minn./Centennial HS) finished the match one kill shy of her second consecutive double-double with 9 kills and 11 digs.
 
"I thought we did a very good job offensively today and that Maggie set a smart match," said Botsford. "Daniele and Amanda were extremely efficient for us on that end. However, we need to be better defensively moving forward. That's a big point of emphasis for us, and our team has to embrace that side of the ball with a bit more focus."
 
The Green Wave scored the first point of the match with a kill from Hannah Shaw. Serrano got the Eagles on the board with a kill of her own. FGCU tallied three consecutive points with the help of back-to-back kills from Carroll, but Eagles errors followed, putting Tulane ahead by one. The Green Wave increased their lead to two with a service ace by Tea Juric. Down 7-5, the Eagles scored four consecutive points to turn the tables on Tulane. Kills from Pudwill and fellow senior Marlene Moeller (Ludinghausen, Germany/Pascal Gymnasium) increased the score to 11-8. The teams split the next four points before a pair of kills brought Tulane back within one. Back-to-back Green Wave errors followed, putting the Eagles up 15-12. The next eight points were exchanged, and FGCU subbed in senior Caroline Jordan (Orlando, Fla./Boone HS) to change the pace. The Eagles captured the next four points, taking a 23-16 lead. Another kill from Tulane's Shaw narrowed the gap, but back-to-back kills from Serrano and Carroll sealed a 25-17 set win for the Green and Blue.
 
Serrano came out hot again in the second set and pounded down the team's first kill, but Tulane jumped out to a 5-2 lead thanks to a handful of Eagles errors. FGCU recaptured the advantage, scoring five of the next six points including a service ace from Carroll. The Green Wave subbed in Shaw and tied the score at 9-all. A pair of Eagles service errors and two kills from Tulane gave the Green Wave a 13-10 advantage. FGCU responded with three consecutive points including a service ace from freshman Giovanna Borgiotti (Vienna, Va./George C. Marshall HS). With the set tied at 13-all the Green Wave amassed four of the next five points. Back-to-back Carroll kills decreased Tulane's lead to one. A kill from Borgiotti took back the lead for the Green and Blue. With FGCU up 20-19, the teams swapped the next six points. An Eagles attack error followed by a kill from Juric set up a set point for Tulane, but a service error blew their lead and tied things up 24-all. A kill from Carroll gave FGCU a 25-24 advantage and forced Tulane to call a timeout. After the Green Wave tied the set at 25-all, another kill from Carroll followed by a kill from Borgiotti gave FGCU a 27-25 set win.
 
Leading 2-0 in the match, FGCU jumped ahead 7-1 to start off the third set. The Eagles' lead increased to eight after two Tulane errors and a Pudwill service ace. The Green Wave began to fight their way back scoring five of the next seven points. Kills from Rick and Borgiotti knocked Tulane back again. With FGCU up 16-8, the Green Wave tallied three consecutive scores. The teams split the next four scores before Tulane cut the Eagles lead to four with back-to-back kills. Two kills from Carroll and a kill from Pudwill advanced the score to 22-15 in favor of the Green and Blue. Tulane answered by capturing four of the next five points, but a service error set up set point for the Eagles. Tulane's Sarah Ray slammed down a kill before a kill from Serrano ended the set 25-21 and the match 3-0 giving FGCU their eighth consecutive victory.
 
UP NEXT
The Green and Blue take on Texas-Rio Grande Valley at 10 a.m. tomorrow before concluding weekend action with a 4:30 p.m. match against Abilene Christian.
 
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 49-24 (.671) 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.