FGCU (12-2) vs. Stetson (3-12)
Saturday, Sept. 24 | 7 PM | Alico Arena
Links: TICKETS | LIVE STATS | WATCH
Coaches: Matt Botford (3rd season @ FGCU – 52-24; same overall) | Kristina Hernandez (3rd season @ Stetson – 30-43; 172-227 overall)
 
FORT MYERS, Fla. – FGCU volleyball will begin ASUN Conference play this weekend when the team faces Stetson at Alico Arena on Saturday, Sept. 24. The Nest has not been a friendly place for opponents this season, as FGCU remains undefeated at home in 2016. The Eagles hold a 15-2 record all-time over the Hatters and have come away with wins in their last four meetings. FGCU will be in the hunt for its fifth-straight win against Stetson and 12^th straight win of the season when the match kicks off at 7 p.m.
 
Fans can catch a live broadcast of the match via ASUN TV. Live stats will also be available from StatBroadcast. For those looking to attend the match and support your FGCU Eagles, tickets can be purchased online at FGCUTickets.com or by calling the university's ticket office at 239-590-7145.
 
PROMOTIONS
Stomp Stetson: Every fan who attends the match will receive a #StompStetson rally towel to help us protect the nest.
Blue Out: Eagles fans are encouraged to break out their blue for the Saturday night match.
Housing Challenge: Bring your neighbors! Our marketing team will be tracking attendance upon entry. The dorm with the highest attendance will receive prizes and a pizza party thrown by FGCU athletics.
Mad Hatter: Here's your chance to get creative! Attendees wearing the best hats in honor of our match against the Hatters will receive prizes.
 
THE GREEN AND BLUE
FGCU enters the weekend 12-2 after downing FIU 3-1 (23-25, 25-14, 25-20, 25-20) on Tuesday night. The victory marks the 11th consecutive win for the Green and Blue. The Eagles' streak ranks second among active streaks in Division I volleyball behind Nebraska who tallies 25 and fourth in the program's DI history. The last time FGCU won 11 in a row was in 2012 when they set a DI program record of 15 straight.
 
As a team, the Eagles own the most efficient offense in the ASUN with a conference-leading .285 hitting percentage (17th in the NCAA).  Senior Marlene Moeller (Ludinghausen, Germany/Pascal Gymnasium) leads the Eagles and the ASUN in the statistical category averaging a .343. Setter Maggie Rick (Alpharhetta, Ga./Blessed Trinity Catholic HS) has been a large part of the unit's success with 10.96 assists per set – good for first in the ASUN and 25th in the nation.
 
Outside hitter Amanda Carroll (Albuquerque, N.M./Sandia HS) leads the ASUN with 223 kills – over 30 more than anyone else in the conference. Her 4.46 kills per set ranks 17th in the NCAA. With 638 kills in her collegiate career, the sophomore is on pace to overtake USA Olympian Brooke Youngquist Sweat for most career kills in program history.
 
The play of freshman Danielle Serrano (Sanford, Fla./Seminole HS) has been improving week after week for the Eagles both offensively and defensively. After accumulating 27 kills and 12 total blocks in the first seven matches of the season, the middle block has amassed 42 kills and 22 blocks in the last seven, almost doubling her production.
 
SCOUTING STETSON
The Hatters enter this weekend's match after a five-set victory (20-25, 25-23, 23-25, 25-17, 15-9) over Bethune-Cookman on Tuesday. Stetson's defense dove for a season-high 81 digs in the match, led by outside hitter McKenna Foster who tallied a career-high 27. Eva Deisa also showed up big against the Wildcats with a career-high 20 digs. The match marked Deisa's third double-double of the season.
 
Senior Madison Akins leads the Hatter's attack this season. Her 2.94 kills per set tie for fourth in the ASUN. Akins has amassed double digit kills in eight matches so far this year.
 
Defensively, the Hatters trail only North Florida for the ASUN lead in blocks, and have averaged 2.33 per set over their past three matches. Shelby Connors leads Stetson in the statistic with 45 total blocks on the year. Akins trails closely behind at 42.
 
The Hatters have averaged a .135 hitting percentage so far this season and trail the ASUN with 10.83 kills per set. Stetson will have to improve their performance on the offensive side of the ball to keep up with FGCU, who ranks second in the conference with 14.14 kills per set.
 
UP NEXT
The Eagles travel to Daytona Beach, Fla. next Tuesday to take on in-state rivals Bethune-Cookman at 7 p.m. FGCU has downed the Wildcats in all eight of their meetings since 2007.
 
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 52-24 (.684) 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.