LakePoint, Ga. - Amanda Carroll was named the ASUN Co-Player of the Year, and Snowy Burnam was named the conference's top freshman following the release of the 2017 ASUN postseason volleyball awards on Wednesday. In addition to that, Carroll won the Scholar Athlete of the Year award.

The awards were announced at Wednesday night's ASUN Championship banquet. FGCU (20-9) is scheduled to face USC Upstate in a quarterfinal matchup at 8:30 p.m. on Thursday. We'll be posting a preview of that match early on Thursday.

Carroll (Albuquerque, N.M./Sandia HS) shared the conference's top individual on-court award with Lipscomb's Carlyle Nusbaum. She is only the second player in the program's history to achieve the honor (Ana Kokanovic, 2007).

"I am so proud of Amanda and excited to see her recognized as player of the year," FGCU head coach Matt Botsford said. "What she has done this season has been so impressive. To follow up what she did last year with these kind of numbers is truly remarkable. She is constantly evolving and just continues to improve in each area of the game.

"This is something we talked about during her recruitment, that I believed she could become one of the premier players in this conference and eventually get to this point. To see it come to fruition is a special moment for Amanda, for our staff and for our program. She has made an indelible mark on this program and we are lucky to have her for another year."

The 5-10 junior outside hitter finished second in the conference in kills per set (4.47) and kills (420). She tallied a .294 hitting percentage and had 292 digs along with 31 aces, 42 block assists and 11 solo blocks. This is her second First Team All-ASUN selection following a second-team nod her freshman year.

Carroll had double-digit kills in all but three matches, and she tallied 13 double-doubles including digs. She was named the ASUN player of the week on Sept. 18.

Burnam (Palm City, Fla./Jensen Beach HS), meanwhile, not only was named to the conference's all-freshmen team, but she was named the ASUN Freshman of the Year. She is the third FGCU player to win the honor - joining Carroll in 2015 and Jill Hopper in 2011.

The 5-11 outside hitter earned the honor with a strong finish to the regular season. In the final seven matches, she had double digit kills in six of them while recording three double-doubles. She had season-highs in kills (17) and digs (17) in a win over USC Upstate on Nov. 5. Overall, Burnam recorded seven matches with 10 or more kills and three matches with 10 or more digs, and she hit .240. She was named the ASUN's Freshman of the Week on Nov. 6. 

"Snowy's season has just been a steady rise," Botsford said. "She seems to get better every practice and every match. Her versatility, along with her output on both sides of the ball, makes for a great combination and one we have relied upon a lot this year. To be named freshman of the year is quite an honor and she definitely earned it. Her performance over the last six weeks of the season after being inserted into the starting lineup has been outstanding."

Daniele Serrano (Sanford, Fla./Seminole HS) was named First Team All-ASUN. She finished the regular season with 223 kills while hitting .363 and had 63 block assists, 21 solo blocks, 25 digs and seven assists. The 6-1 sophomore middle blocker led the ASUN in hitting percentage.

"Dani has had another stellar season and to think that she is still just a sophomore is pretty eye opening," Botsford said. "The efficiency that she plays at has been a huge part of our success and this year we have called on her even more. She is so competitive and so reliable in big moments, I'm glad that she is receiving this kind of recognition within our conference."

Maggie Rick (Alpharetta, Ga./Blessed Trinity Catholic HS), a junior who led the conference in assists (1,126) and assists per set (11.37), was named Second Team All-ASUN. The 2016 ASUN Setter of the Year earned All-ASUN recognition for the third consecutive season. She had 12 matches with at least 40 assists and four with at least 50. She even had a season-high 60 against USC Upstate on Nov. 5, and she had 40 or more assists in six of the final seven matches.

"Maggie's development year to year has been really impressive but what she has done with the offense this season stands out as her top achievement so far," Botsford said. "The way she has adjusted and incorporated three new hitters into the lineup shows what a talent she is. I'm so happy that she is being recognized again and that is a testament to her consistency and creativity as a setter."

In addition to those players, Cortney VanLiew (Seymour, Ind./Columbus East HS) was named to the ASUN All-Freshmen Team. She finished second on the team in kills (293) and third in digs (221) while hitting .204 and tallying 10 assists, 25 block assists, five solo blocks and 17 aces. She finished fifth in the ASUN in total kills, sixth in kills per set (3.02) and 15th in digs.

The 5-11 freshman outside hitter was named the ASUN Player and Freshman of the Week on Oct. 16, and she had three total freshman of the week awards this year.

"Cortney stepped into a starting role right from the start and has carried quite a load for this team," Botsford said. "I have been so impressed by the way she has handled herself on the court as a young player being asked to do a lot. She has had a phenomenal season and to be chosen as a member of the all-freshmen team is a great honor that reflects her talents and contributions."

Academically, Carroll joined Kennesaw State's Kristi Piedimonte in capturing the ASUN's Scholar Athlete of the Year award. A communications major, Carroll has compiled a 3.85 GPA to earn the top spot on the seven member all-academic team. Joining her on the team is Rick, an economics major who has compiled a 3.83 GPA.

"Maggie's inclusion on the all-academic team is also a special recognition that I am proud to see. She is such a hardworking and dedicated student. She is a wonderful representative of FGCU and our volleyball program."

2017 ASUN Volleyball All-Conference and Postseason Honors
Co-Player of the Year: Amanda Carroll (FGCU) and Carlyle Nusbaum (Lipscomb)
Defensive Player of the Year: Mackenzie Swan (Jacksonville)
Setter of the Year: Kristi Piedimonte (Kennesaw State)
Freshman of the Year: Snowy Burnam (FGCU)
Coach of the Year: Keith Schunzel (Kennesaw State)

First Team All-Conference
* Amanda Carroll (FGCU) #
* Carlyle Nusbaum (Lipscomb) #
* Anaiah Boyer (Kennesaw State) ^
Daniele Serrano (FGCU) 
Mallory Mattingly (Jacksonville)
Mackenzie Swan (Jacksonville)
Liesl Engelbrecht (Kennesaw State)
Kristi Piedimonte (Kennesaw State) #
* - Denotes unanimous selection
# - Denotes two-time First Team All-Conference selection
^ - Denotes a three-time First Team All-Conference selection
A tie in voting led to an eight-person First Team

Second Team All-Conference
Maggie Rick (FGCU)
Amarrah Cooks (Jacksonville)
Olga Nushtayeva (Jacksonville)
Alleah Stamatis (Jacksonville)
Sydni Shelton (Kennesaw State)
Ashley LaBorde (North Florida)
Madison Haake (USC Upstate)

All-Freshmen Team
* Snowy Burnam (FGCU)
* Devyn Wheeler (North Florida)
* Lily Dempsey (USC Upstate)
* McKenna Kirkpatrick (USC Upstate)
Cortney VanLiew (FGCU)
Kendall Murr (Jacksonville)
Lauren Chastang (Kennesaw State)
* - denotes unanimous selection

ASUN ALL-ACADEMIC TEAM
^Amanda Carroll#, FGCU (Junior | 3.85 | Communications)
^*Kristi Piedimonte%, Kennesaw State (Senior | 4.00 | Nursing)
Maggie Rick#, FGCU (Junior | 3.83 | Economics)
Morgan Elmore, Lipscomb (Sophomore | 3.69 | Dietetics)
Brittany Thomas, Lipscomb (Senior | 3.85 | Accounting)
Taryn Griffey, North Florida (Sophomore | 3.95 | International Business)
Madison Haake#, USC Upstate (Junior | 3.85 | Computer Information Systems) 
* - Denotes unanimous selection
# - Denotes two-time All-Academic selection
% - Denotes three-time All-Academic selection 
^ - Scholar Athlete of the Year

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 just two shy of the all-time mark. His teams have combined for an 87-37 (.702) overall record, including a 42-14 (.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.