NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The FGCU volleyball team will open the 2017 ASUN Championship with a quarterfinal matchup against USC Upstate at 8:30 p.m. ET on Thursday at Allen Arena.

It will be the first-ever postseason matchup between the two teams and possibly the last with USC Upstate departing the ASUN following the school year for the Big South. FGCU is 19-0 all-time against USC Upstate.

All matches are being streamed on ESPN3, and you can follow live updates on the FGCU volleyball Twitter page. Tournament passes are available for $20 and individual session tickets are $8. Admission for all college students with a valid student ID from any ASUN college and children under five will be permitted entry at no cost.
 
THE GREEN AND BLUE
FGCU's offense is led by ASUN Player of the Year Amanda Carroll (Albuquerque, N.M./Sandia HS), who has tallied 420 kills and 13 double-doubles this year. She led the conference in kills and kills per set. Daniele Serrano (Sanford, Fla./Seminole HS), who led the ASUN in hitting percentage, was also a First Team All-ASUN selection.

Junior setter Maggie Rick (Alpharetta, Ga./Blessed Trinity Catholic HS) led the conference in total assists and assists per set en route to Second Team All-ASUN recognition. Snowy Burnam (Palm City, Fla./Jensen Beach HS), a 5-11 outside hitter, was named the ASUN Freshman of the Year, which gives the program two of the past three winners (Carroll 2015). She had 154 kills this year while recording three double-doubles.

Cortney VanLiew (Seymour, Ind./Columbus East HS) was also named to the ASUN's All-Freshmen team after recording 293 kills.

TOURNAMENT HISTORY
FGCU advanced to the 2016 ASUN Championship final before falling to Lipscomb. It was the program's second appearance in the title match (2009). The Eagles have advanced to the semifinals each year since 2011 and are looking for the program's first championship.

SCOUTING USC UPSTATE
USC Upstate currently ranks second in the ASUN this season in both digs and digs per set. In conference play, Madison Haake tied for third in assists, sixth in service aces, seventh in assists per set, ninth in service aces per set and digs, and tenth in digs per set. Kaleigh Kelley finished fifth in the league in digs and eighth in digs per set, and Lily Dempsey ranks eighth in kills.

UP NEXT
With a win, FGCU would advance to face #2 Jacksonville (18-9) in the semifinals on Friday. Kennesaw State (19-4) earned the top seed and received a bye into the semifinals where they will meet either #4 Lipscomb (15-12) or #5 North Florida (13-18).

CLIMBING THE RECORD BOOKS

Kills (Career)
1. 1,320 - Amanda Carroll (.262) - 2015-present
2. 1,167 - Brooke Youngquist (.246) - 2004-07
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. 1,524.0 - Amanda Carroll (1,329k 96a 38-140b) - 2015-present
2. 1,338.0 - Olivia Mesner (1,132k 4a 62-280b) - 2011-14
3. 1,327.5 - Brooke Youngquist (1,167k 99a 11-101b) - 2004-07
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. 3,384 - Amanda Carroll (1,320-434-3,384) - 2015-present
2. 3,139 - Brooke Youngquist (1,167-396-3,139) - 2004-07
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

Attack Percentage - minimum 150 attempts (Career)
1. .403 - Cara Ziegler (312-56-636) - 2006-07
2. .365 - Daniele Serrano (377-75-828) - 2016-present
3. .363 - Ericka Fonseca (837-184-1,801) - 2005-06
4. .331 - Olivia Mesner (1,132-353-2,356) - 2011-14
5. .325 - Audrey Campbell (292-71-679) - 2007-08

Assists (Career)
1. 4,408 - Gigi Meyer (474 sets) 2011-14
2. 3,584 - Maggie Rick (338 sets) - 2015-present
3. 3,108 - Chandra Lefever (201 sets) - 2006-07, 09
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 (116 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 (107 matches*) - 2004-07
5. 1,058 - Courtney Stephens (442 sets) - 2014-present
6. 947 - Gigi Meyer (474 sets) - 2011-14
7. 917 - Amanda Carroll (325 sets) - 2015-present
8. 884 - Heather Van Olst (89 matches*) - 2004-06
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 (107 matches*) - 2004-07
5. 96 - Amanda Carroll (325 sets) - 2015-present
6. 92 - Whitney Hendry (116 matches*) - 2004-07
7. 88 - Jill Hopper (246 sets) - 2011-13
8. 87 - Courtney Stephens (442 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 - Amanda Carroll (325 sets) - 2015-present
    38 - Kaitlin Holm (359 sets) - 2011-13
6. 36 - Devon Watts (60 matches*) - 2004-05
7. 35 - Kristy Hartley (29 matches*) - 2004 
8. 30 - Daniele Serrano (216 sets) - 2016-present
9. 23 - Melissa Duffield (22 matches*) - 2005
    23 - Jacqueline Cowden (171 sets) - 2009-10

Block Assists (Career)
1. 280 - Olivia Mesner (428 sets) - 2011-14
2. 242 - Ashley Yance (296 sets) - 2005-09
3. 196 - Ericka Fonseca (63 matches*) - 2005-06
4. 180 - Marlene Moeller (301 sets) - 2013-16
5. 176 - Karina Mambuca (233 sets) - 2012-13
6. 167 - Kaitlin Holm (359 sets) - 2011-13
7. 161 - Daniele Serrano (216 sets) - 2016-present
8. 159 - Lauren Tutwiler (208 sets) - 2014-15
9. 153 - Devon Watts (60 matches*) - 2004-05
    153 - Eleonora Kazarian (213 sets) - 2014-15
* 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 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.