FGCU (11-2) vs. FIU (6-7)
Tuesday, Sept. 20 | 6 PM | Alico Arena
Links: TICKETS | LIVE STATS | WATCH
Coaches: Matt Botsford (3rd season @ FGCU – 51-24; same overall) | Rita Buck-Crockett (4th season @ FIU – 41-60; same overall)
 
FORT MYERS, Fla. – The FGCU volleyball team will continue its non-conference slate with a Tuesday night match against in-state rival FIU. The Blue and Green with face the Panthers at Alico Arena on Sept. 20 with the first serve beginning at 6 p.m. The Eagles hold a 5-4 advantage all time over FIU and remain undefeated at home in 2016.
 
The match will be broadcast via Facebook Live on the team's homepage. Live stats will be made available through StatBroadcast and can be accessed at FGCUathletics.com. For those looking to attend the game, tickets can be purchased online at FGCUTickets.com or by calling the university's ticket office at 239-590-7145.
 
THE GREEN AND BLUE
The Eagles downed FAU, Tulane, UT Rio Grande Valley and Abilene Christian in a four-match sweep of the Owls Classic last weekend. FGCU outlasted FAU in five sets on Thursday and shutout Tulane on Friday before taking down UTRGV in three and ACU in four on Saturday. The victories extended FGCU's winning streak to 10 and improved their record to 11-2, marking the Eagles best start of a season since 2007. Their .833 winning percentage is currently leading the Atlantic Sun Conference.
 
Sophomore Amanda Carroll (Albuquerque, N.M./Sandia HS) was named tournament MVP and ASUN Player of the Week after the outside hitter slammed down 76 kills between four weekend matches.  Her 25 kills against tournament host FAU marked a career high and tied for fourth all-time by an FGCU player in a single match. Carroll's 203 kills on the season top the ASUN and rank her 25^th in the nation.
 
While she was the kills leader in three matches, Carroll also played a large role in the Eagles defense, tallying 14 blocks and 34 digs. She posted double-doubles against both FAU and UT Rio Grande Valley this week, and her 12 digs in that UTRGV match tied her season-high in the category.
 
Senior Marlene Moeller (Ludinghausen, Germany/Pascal Gymnasium) and freshman Daniele Serrano (Sanford, Fla./Seminole HS) also earned spots on the All-Tournament Team following weekend play. Moeller tallied 16 total blocks in four games and averages a conference-leading .339 hitting percentage, while Serrano recorded career highs in kills and blocks during the tournament with 10 kills against Tulane and five blocks against FAU.
 
Sophomore Maggie Rick (Alpharhetta, Ga./Blessed Trinity Catholic HS) amassed 165 assists on the weekend including 63 against the Owls. The Eagles setter has facilitated the most efficient offense in the ASUN, as FGCU averages a conference-leading .290 hitting percentage. Her 10.87 assists per set also top the conference and ranks 28^th in the nation.
 
SCOUTING FIU
The Panthers are coming off a 2-2 weekend in Starkville, Mississippi, sweeping Eastern Illinois and Troy, but falling to Mississippi State 3-2 and Portland 3-0.
 
The Panthers were led last weekend by senior Katie Hogan and junior Taija Thomas, who were both named to the Maroon-Classic All-Tournament Team. For the season, Hogan leads the team in points (163.5), kills (131), attacks (396), service aces (14), digs (114) and double-doubles (six). Thomas leads the team in hitting percentage with .270 and is second on the team in kills with 111.
 
The FIU blocking front is led by junior Jennifer Ene who ranks fourth in school history in career solo blocks with 42 and ninth in block assists with 197.
 
FIU will be the third team the Eagles have faced from Conference USA this season. FGCU fell in four to #25 Western Kentucky during their first tournament of the year and defeated FAU 3-2 last weekend at the Owls Classic.
 
The Panthers defeated the ASUN's North Florida 3-1 on Sept. 10 at the Best Western Osprey Invite in Jacksonville.
 
UP NEXT
Conference play begins for the Green and Blue with a 7 p.m. match against Stetson on Saturday, Sept. 24. FGCU is 15-2 all time after sweeping the series last season. Purchase tickets for the match at FGCUTickets.com and help the Eagles #ProtectTheNest.
 
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 51-24 (.680) 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.