Matchup: USC Upstate (5-11, 2-1 ASUN) at FGCU (10-6, 2-1 ASUN)
When: Oct. 6 I 7 PM I Alico Arena
Links: Stats | Video
Coaches: Matt Botsford (4th season at FGCU – 77-34; same overall) I Jennifer Calloway (22nd season at USC Upstate - 345-341; same overall)

 Matchup: NJIT (9-9, 1-2 ASUN) at FGCU (10-6, 2-1 ASUN)
When: Oct. 7 I 6 PM I Alico Arena
Links: Stats I Video
Coach: Peter Volkert (4th season at NJIT - 39-78, 23rd overall - 378-389)

FORT MYERS, Fla. – After wrapping up a 10-match road trip, the FGCU volleyball team (10-6, 2-1 ASUN) will host USC Upstate (5-11, 2-1 ASUN) and NJIT (9-9, 1-2 ASUN) in its first ASUN home action of the season. Friday's match against USC Upstate is a White Out and Saturday's match against NJIT is promoting Buy-One-Get-One Tix if Dirty Birds go to both the volleyball and men's soccer game on the same night.

"After a four-week stretch on the road, it is nice to finally be back home," FGCU head coach Matt Botsford said. "I know the players are eager to compete in front of our fans and will be looking to carry some momentum forward after our match in Nashville. We have had a great week of practice, and I really like the focus and efficiency that the team has been training with. Our middles in particular have made some big strides in the last few days, and Dani Serrano has really impressed me with the level she is practicing at. I'm also really pleased with the progress that Maggie continues to make relative to our offensive rhythm. She is putting our hitters in good spots and is very dialed in to what we are trying to accomplish out there."

SERIES HISTORY
FGCU has history on its side this weekend as the Eagles have never lost to USC Upstate or NJIT, holding a 17-0 record over the Spartans of USC Upstate and a 4-0 record against the Highlanders of NJIT. Last year, FGCU swept both teams at home, but USC Upstate took FGCU to five sets in Spartanburg, S.C. on Nov. 11. In the all-time history against USC Upstate dating back to 2007, FGCU has won 12 of 17 in straight sets. Last year's five-setter was only the second to go the distance between the two teams. FGCU has won all 12 sets against NJIT in a series that began in 2015.

THE GREEN AND BLUE
FGCU is coming off a 10-match road trip in which the team produced a 7-3 record, including a big four-set road win over Lipscomb on Sept. 30 in the team's most recent outing. The team competed in the Wildcat Classic in Davidson, N.C. Sept. 8-9 and the Hoosier Classic Sept. 15-16 before finishing the trip 3-1 against Bethune-Cookman, Stetson, Kennesaw State and Lipscomb.

For FGCU, Amanda Carroll (Albuquerque, N.M./Sandia HS) moved up to second place on the program's career kills list in the win over Lipscomb. She sits at 1,144 kills in her two plus years and is just 24 kills away from passing Brooke Youngquist Sweat, the USA Beach Volleyball Olympian who had 1,167 kills from 2004-07. Carroll currently ranks in the top five in the ASUN in kills (2nd, 244), kills/set (2nd, 4.52) and hitting percentage (5th, .311). She is also 10th in digs/set at 2.87.

Maggie Rick (Alpharetta, Ga./Blessed Trinity Catholic HS), meanwhile, is currently third all-time in career assists with 3,066. She needs 43 more to move past Chandra Lefever (2006-07, 09) for second place. Gigi Meyer (2011-14) tops the list with 4,408. Rick leads the ASUN in assists (608) and assists/set (11.05) this year. Carroll and Courtney Stephens (Winter Park, Fla./Winter Park HS) are also moving up the career list in service aces. Carroll (88) is tied for sixth place and needs five more to move past Whitney Hendry (2004-07) for fifth place, while Stephens is in eighth place with 81. On top of that, Stephens needs 19 more digs to move past Gigi Meyer (2011-14) for fifth place on the career digs list, and Carroll sits in eighth place on the same list with 780. Carroll and Daniele Serrano (Sanford, Fla./Seminole HS) are also close to breaking into the top 10 in total blocks at 11th and 12th, respectively.

Cortney VanLiew (Seymour, Ind./Columbus East HS) remains second on the team in kills (186). She had 16 kills in the win over Lipscomb last weekend, which was one shy of tying the freshman's season-high. Serrano, who is third on the team in kills (122), leads the conference and is ranked 25th nationally with her .405 hitting percentage. As a team, FGCU leads the ASUN in hitting at .261.

SCOUTING USC UPSTATE
The Spartans (5-11, 2-1 ASUN) have faced NJIT, Jacksonville and North Florida in ASUN play. The team's 2-1 start in conference play is its best since joining the ASUN in 2007. Freshman right side hitter Lily Dempsey leads the team in kills (159), while senior setter Madison Haake leads with 424 assists. In fact, Haake has three triple-doubles this year, which is tied for the most in NCAA play. Senior libero Kaleigh Kelley has a team-high 249 digs. The duo of Dempsey and freshman middle blocker McKenna Kirkpatrick have combined for a total of 75 blocks. Haake (Defensive Player of the Week) and Dempsey (Freshman of the Week) were honored by the ASUN this past week. In ASUN play, USC Upstate currently ranks second in digs/set and fourth in total digs.

SCOUTING NJIT
NJIT (9-9, 1-2 ASUN) will face Stetson on Friday before competing in Alico Arena on Saturday. The Highlanders have wins over Iona, Saint Peter's and North Florida in a recent stretch. They are coming off a three set loss to Jacksonville over the weekend, but have won seven of their past nine matches heading into this weekend

Senior outside hitter Tess Albyn leads the team offensively with 207 kills. In her last 11 matches, she is averaging 14.2 kills and hitting .319. Sophomore setter Liz Benson has 341 assists. Defensively, the senior duo of Adrianne Bynoe and Mikalah Hughes have combined for 123 total blocks at 69 and 54, respectively. Junior libero, Adriana Nieto, leads the ASUN in digs with 295 and is second in digs/set with 4.28. As a team, NJIT ranks first in the ASUN in kills (832), digs (1017) and service aces (122).

Kills (Career)
1. 1,167 - Brooke Youngquist (.246) - 2004-07
2. 1,144 - Amanda Carroll (.260) - 2015-present
3. 1,132 - Olivia Mesner (.331) - 2011-14
4. 961 - Jessica Barnes (.194) - 2010-11, 13-14
5. 926 - Kaitlin Holm (.227) - 2011-13
6. 837 - Ericka Fonseca (.363) - 2005-06
7. 725 - Jill Hopper (.203) - 2011-13
8. 700 - Heather Van Olst (.212) - 2004-06
9. 693 - Eleonora Kazarian (.225) - 2014-15
10. 678 - Ana Kokanovic (.281) - 2007-08

Points (Career)
1. 1,138.0 - Olivia Mesner (1,132k 4a 62-280b) - 2011-14
2. 1,327.5 - Brooke Youngquist (1,167k 99a 11-101b) - 2004-07
3. 1,323.0 - Amanda Carroll (1,144k 88a 31-120b) - 2015-present
4. 1,087.5 - Kaitlin Holm (926k 40a 38-167b) - 2011-13
5. 1,045.5 - Jessica Barnes (961k 43a 13-57b) 2010-11, 13-14

Attack Attempts (Career)
1. 3,139 - Brooke Youngquist (1,167-396-3,139) - 2004-07
2. 2,933 - Amanda Carroll (1,144-381-2,933) - 2015-present
3. 2,725 - Jessica Barnes (961-433-2,725) 2010-11, 13-14
4. 2,449 - Kaitlin Holm (926-371-2,449) - 2011-13
5. 2,356 - Olivia Mesner (1,132-353-2,356) 2011-14

Assists (Career)
1. 4,408 - Gigi Meyer (474 sets) 2011-14
2. 3,108 - Chandra Lefever (201 sets) - 2006-07, 09
3. 3,066 - Maggie Rick (294 sets) - 2015-present
4. 1,809 - Laura Manovill (56 matches*) - 2004-05
5. 1,475 - Roberta Santos (180 sets) - 2007-08

Digs (Career)
1. 1,965 - Whitney Hendry (83 matches*) - 2004-07
2. 1,687 - Whitney Masters (483 sets) - 2011-14
3. 1,652 - Holly Youngquist (418 sets) - 2008-11
4. 1,367 - Brooke Youngquist (89 matches*) - 2004-07
5. 947 - Gigi Meyer (474 sets) - 2011-14
6. 929 - Courtney Stephens (398 sets) - 2014-present
7. 884 - Heather Van Olst (89 matches*) - 2004-06
8. 780 - Amanda Carroll (285 sets) - 2015-present
9. 765 - Chandra Lefever (201 sets) - 2006-07, 09
10. 681 - Vanessa Benke (164 sets) - 2013-15

Service Aces (Career)
1. 139 - Ana Kokanovic (178 sets) - 2007-08
2. 99 - Roberta Santos (180 sets) - 2007-08
    99 - Gigi Meyer (474 sets) - 2011-14
    99 - Brooke Youngquist (89 matches*) - 2004-07
5. 92 - Whitney Hendry (83 matches*) - 2004-07
6. 88 - Jill Hopper (246 sets) - 2011-13
    88 - Amanda Carroll (285 sets) - 2015-present
8. 81 - Courtney Stephens (398 sets) - 2014-present
9. 78 - Whitney Masters (483 sets) - 2011-14
10. 75 - Chandra Lefever (201 sets) - 2006-07, 09

Solo Blocks (Career)
1. 62 - Olivia Mesner (428 sets) - 2011-14
2. 51 - Ericka Fonseca (63 matches*) - 2005-06
3. 45 - Ashley Yance (296 sets) - 2005-09
4. 38 - Kaitlin Holm (359 sets) - 2011-13
5. 36 - Devon Watts (60 matches*) - 2004-05
6. 35 - Kristy Hartley (29 matches*) - 2004-05
7. 31 - Amanda Carroll (285 sets) - 2015-present
8. 23 - Melissa Duffield (22 matches*) - 2005
    23 - Jacqueline Cowden (171 sets) - 2009-10
10. 22 - Daniele Serrano (172 sets) - 2016-present

* Set information not available for this player.

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 fourth season at the helm of FGCU volleyball. In 2016, Botsford's squad produced one of its most successful seasons ever at 27-6, with the win total representing the most in Division I program history and falling two shy of the all-time mark. His teams have combined for an 77-34 (.690) overall record, including a 34-11 (.750) mark in ASUN play. In his inaugural season, the Eagles finished with a record of 19-11 with a second-place ASUN finish, and he improved that win total to 21 in his second season. Botsford has coached 15 All ASUN selections in his three 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.

IRMA RELIEF DONATIONS
In the wake of Hurricane Irma, many individuals and families throughout Southwest Florida are still in desperate need of assistance. To aid in those relief efforts, FGCU Athletics will be collecting donations at all Eagle home games for the immediate future. Donation items most needed include: non-perishable food, clothing, household items and first-aid supplies. Additionally, those unable to attend upcoming home games can drop off donations in canisters located in the Alico Arena lobby. All donations will be given to those hardest hit in Lee and Collier counties.