NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The No. 3 FGCU volleyball team swept No. 6 USC Upstate 3-0 in Quarterfinals of the ASUN Tournament Thursday night at Allen Arena. The Eagles took the sweep with a score of 25-16, 25-12, 25-21 to improve to 21-9 on the season, while the Spartans end the year 8-21. 

ASUN Freshman of the Year Snowy Burnam (Palm City, Fla./Jensen Beach HS) led the way with 12 kills and a .345 hitting percentage while Giovanna Borgiotti (Vienna, Va./George C. Marshall HS) had the highest percentage of the night at .476 to compile 11 kills. The ASUN's Player of the Year Amanda Carroll (Albuquerque, N.M./Sandia HS) delivered an impressive performance on the defense with 20 digs, three shy of her season-best to pave the way for the Eagles to post their second-highest dig total in the Division I era for a three-set match (71).

"I don't think the first set was as clean as we would have liked," head coach Matt Botsford said.  "We had a different line up limiting Amanda to manage the amount of the time she was jumping and it took some time for that to gel, but I think we really took off heading into the second set. We continued to improve throughout, but I liked it, and I liked the way our girls picked it up. I thought Gio was terrific tonight. She blocked great, attacked well and had a real calming influence in out of system scenarios."

After a tight battle in the first set at 12 apiece, the Eagles went on a scoring run sparked by Daniele Serrano (Sanford, Fla./Seminole HS) with three kills to guide the Blue and Green to a 25-16 set victory. Borgiotti and Burnam came alive in the second set with five kills each to hold the Spartans to a mere .041, which was their lowest hitting percentage of the night. The third set was the closest of the match as the Eagles and Spartans battled their way to 18-18. After three Eagle points in a row USC Upstate would try to crawl their way back, but Borgiotti sealed their fate with back to back kills making it 25-21 in favor of FGCU.

NEXT UP
FGCU takes on second-seeded Jacksonville Friday at 8:30 p.m. 

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.