FORT MYERS, Fla. - Amanda Carroll now sits alone with the most kills in FGCU volleyball history after racking up 15 in her team's 3-0 win (25-12, 25-20, 25-17) over NJIT in Alico Arena Saturday.

Carroll (Albuquerque, N.M./Sandia HS), who now has 1,174 kills, picked up her record-breaking ninth kill in the second set to move past USA Beach Volleyball Olympian Brooke Youngquist Sweat, who had 1,167 from 2004-07. It was the third straight match in which Carroll has recorded at least 15 kills, and she also notched 11 digs to pick up her second straight double-double. NJIT also saw her perform at a .382 clip, which was Carroll's fifth best percentage in a match this year.

"It's an honor," Carroll said. "Brooke played in the Olympics. She played all four years here. To be even in the same category as her at the university level is an honor for me."

With the win, FGCU (12-6, 4-1 ASUN) has now won three straight and five of its past six. The Eagles, who are now 5-0 all-time against NJIT (9-11, 1-4 ASUN), will return to action at FIU on Tuesday at 7 p.m. in a match originally scheduled for Sept. 19, but was postponed due to Hurricane Irma.

"I think the story of the night was the offensive efficiency that we played at, and Maggie did a great job with execution," head coach Matt Botsford said. "I thought for the most part we handled the ball well in serve receive, but there were some lapses on the defensive side of the ball. And that continues to be a focus for us if we want to take that next step as a team."

On top of Carroll's achievement, Maggie Rick (Alpharetta, Ga./Blessed Trinity Catholic HS) inched closer to history by moving into second place all-time in assists. The junior setter entered the match needing just six to move past Chandra Lefever (3,108, 2006-07, 09), and she tallied a match-high 39 to push her career total to 3,142. Rick, who is averaging the best kills/set total of her career at 0.67, now only trails Gigi Meyer (4,408, 2011-14) for the top spot.

As a team, FGCU improved every set offensively. In the opening frame, Carroll alone had more kills (7) than NJIT's entire team (6) in the first set as the Eagles hit .341. In the second and third sets, FGCU hit .417 and .452, respectively, to finish with a .398 percentage overall.

Cortney VanLiew, Snowy Burnam and Kaitlan Krivdo each were big complements to Carroll's performance. VanLiew (Seymour, Ind./Columbus East HS) finished second on the team with 11 kills while hitting .450. Burnam (Palm City, Fla./Jensen Beach HS) finished with eight and hit .409, and Krivdo (Hope Mills, N.C./Grays Creek HS) had seven at a .538 clip.

For Krivdo, her .538 percentage was a season-high in a match with at least 10 attempts, and her kill total was just two shy of matching her season-high. Burnam nearly picked up her second consecutive match with double digit kills, but she's now averaging 9.3 kills over the past three matches. On top of that, the freshman totaled 20 kills with just one error over 37 attempts this weekend.

Defensively, Krivdo and Daniele Serrano (Sanford, Fla./Seminole HS) each had four block assists, while VanLiew and Burnam each had three. Karissa Rhoades (Valrico, Fla./Bloomingdale Senior HS) led the way in digs with 13, while Carroll (11) and Rick (9) were next in line.

In the opening set, FGCU used a 12-1 run to seize control before VanLiew and Krivdo teamed up for a block to give the Eagles a 25-12 win. Similar to the first set, NJIT struck first in the next set with the first two points. With her team down 8-7, Carroll capped a 4-0 run with back-to-back kills, the first of which moved her past Youngquist Sweat. FGCU never trailed again as VanLiew finished things off with a kill for a 25-20 win. Both teams split the first 14 points of the final set, but three straight from FGCU, which included a kill from Serrano, propelled FGCU into an eventual 25-17 win. The match was capped with a kill from Krivdo.

FGCU and Kennesaw State remain tied for second place in the ASUN standings at 4-1 behind Jacksonville, who defeated Lipscomb tonight and improved to 5-0 in conference play. FGCU will host Jacksonville and North Florida (0-5) next weekend.

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 79-34 (.699) overall record, including a 36-11 (.766) 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.