FORT MYERS, Fla. – The FGCU volleyball team (17-8, 7-3 ASUN) concludes a four-game road trip with matchups against NJIT and USC Upstate this weekend. On Friday, the Eagles will head to Newark, N.J. to face NJIT (11-16, 1-9 ASUN) at 7 p.m. before heading back south to face the Spartans (7-17, 3-7 ASUN) on Sunday at 2 p.m. in Spartanburg, S.C.
FGCU is a combined 23-0 all-time against NJIT and USC Upstate, and they've clinched a spot in the ASUN Championship for the sixth-straight season. They're currently in third place - two games behind Kennesaw State and Jacksonville in the standings.
Following this weekend, FGCU returns home to face Lipscomb and Kennesaw State to close out the regular season. Should Kennesaw State lose to Jacksonville this weekend, those matches could help the Eagles in the battle for a top two seed and a quarterfinal round bye in the ASUN Championship.
THE GREEN AND BLUE
Despite some stellar individual statistics, FGCU has lost two straight for the first time since Sept. 1-2. On top of that, FGCU had its eight-match and 22-set winning streaks snapped. The set streak was the longest for the program since it became NCAA Division I postseason eligible and the second longest since the program moved up to Division I status in 2007.
Amanda Carroll (Albuquerque, N.M./Sandia HS) enters the matchup against NJIT having produced three straight double-doubles. She now has 12 this year, which ties her mark from last year and is two shy of her career-high set in 2015. In the loss to Jacksonville, she had 21 kills, 16 digs and three aces - one day after producing a season-high 23 digs against North Florida. It was her fourth match with at least 20 kills this year, and she's now averaging 17 kills and 16 digs during the three-game stretch.
On top of that, Carroll moved up the career list in two statistical categories last weekend. First, she broke a tie with Jill Hopper (88, 2011-13) for the sixth most career service aces, and she is now two away from tying Whitney Hendry (92, 2004-07) for fifth. Second, Carroll now has 891 career digs, which pushed her past Heather Van Olst (884, 2004-06) for seventh place all-time. Next up on the list is Gigi Meyer (947, 2011-14), and should she reach 1,000, she would join Brooke Youngquist Sweat (1,167 kills, 1,367 digs) as the only two players in program history with 1,000 kills and 1,000 digs.
In the ASUN, Carroll is second in kills per set (4.40), kills (370) and points per set (5.10), and she's fifth in hitting percentage (.300). Her kills per set also ranks 18th in the nation.
In addition to Carroll,
Snowy Burnam (Palm City, Fla./Jensen Beach HS) has produced double-digit kills in three straight matches. She averaged 11 kills, 8.5 digs and three blocks assists last weekend.
Cortney VanLiew (Seymour, Ind/Columbus East HS) has two straight and eight matches overall this year with double digits in digs, and she produced eight kills against Jacksonville, which was the 19th time this year she's had at least that many. The freshman is fifth in the ASUN in kills (263).
Maggie Rick (Alpharetta, Ga./Blessed Trinity Catholic HS) finished just two assists shy of her season-high with 49 against Jacksonville. She now has 3,400 in her career as she continues to chip away at Gigi Meyer's all-time program mark of 4,408 from 2011-14. The junior leads the ASUN in assists per set (11.08) and assists (942).
Defensively,
Karissa Rhoades (Valrico, Fla./Bloomingdale Senior HS) now has 10 straight matches with at least 10 digs, and her 18 against Jacksonville tied her total for fifth most in a match this year. She is averaging nearly twice as many digs per set (4.29) than she did last year (2.20). Among ASUN players, Rhoades is fourth in digs per set (4.29) and digs (365).
Courtney Stephens (Winter Park, Fla./Winter Park HS) reached 1,000 career digs in the match against North Florida by notching a season-high 18, and she followed that up with 11 more against Jacksonville. She now has five matches with double digits this year.
Daniele Serrano (Sanford, Fla./Seminole HS), who tied a career-high in kills with 14 against Jacksonville, has reached double digits in three of her past four matches. She leads the ASUN and is 26th in the nation in hitting percentage at .396.
Kaitlan Krivdo (Hope Mills, N.C./Grays Creek HS) had a season-high 27 attack attempts against North Florida, which led to eight kills, which was one shy of her season-high.
Sharonda Pickering (Sea Cow's Bay, Tortola, British Virgin Islands/Elmore Stoutt HS) added one block and now has 48 this year, which is second on the team. She leads the team in blocks per set at 0.98.
SCOUTING NJIT
NJIT, who is coming off a pair of losses to Kennesaw State and Lipscomb, is led defensively by Adriana Nieto. The junior libero is third in the ASUN in digs (398), fifth in digs per set (4.15) and first in service aces per set (0.38). Tess Albyn, a senior outside hitter, has a team-high 303 kills - 98 more than the next closest on the team. In fact, she needs 71 more to have the most by an NJIT player since joining the ASUN. Senior middle blocker Mikalah Hughes is hitting a team-high .242 over 442 attacks. Liz Benson, a sophomore, leads the team in assists with 611, but Emily Krachenfels (176) and Alyssa Armada (125) each also have contributed in that area. The senior duo of Hughes and Adrianne Bynoe have 73 total blocks apiece.
As a team, NJIT leads the ASUN in service aces (153) and service aces per set (1.59), and they are second in block assists (290). The ace total is 16th best in the nation, as well.
FGCU is 5-0 all-time against NJIT with each match ending in straight sets. This will be the third meeting in Newark.
SCOUTING USC UPSTATE
USC Upstate dropped a pair of matches to Lipscomb and Kennesaw State last weekend. Freshman right side hitter Lily Dempsey finished with 15 kills against Lipscomb, which marked the 11th time this year she has recorded double-digit kills. Junior setter Madison Haake recorded her ninth double-double of the season against Kennesaw State.
The Spartans rank third in the ASUN in digs and digs per set. Haake is fourth in assists, sixth in assists per set, seventh in service aces and 10th in digs. Dempsey is ninth in kills, while senior libero Kaleigh Kelley is sixth in digs and eighth in digs per set. Nationally, Haake ranks second with four triple-doubles.
On Friday, USC Upstate will host its senior night against Stetson despite Sunday's match against FGCU being its home finale.
FGCU is 18-0 all-time against USC Upstate, which includes an 8-0 record on the road. Of those 18 matchups, 13 have ended in straight sets.
CLIMBING THE RECORD BOOKS
Kills (Career)
1. 1,270 - 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. 1,462.5 - Amanda Carroll (1,270k 90a 35-135b) - 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. 3,255 - Amanda Carroll (1,270-416-3,255) - 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. .384 - Daniele Serrano (352-65-748) - 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. 3,400 - Maggie Rick (324 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. 1,015 - Courtney Stephens (428 sets) - 2014-present
6. 947 - Gigi Meyer (474 sets) - 2011-14
7. 891 - Amanda Carroll (315 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. 92 - Whitney Hendry (116 matches*) - 2004-07
6. 90 - Amanda Carroll (315 sets) - 2015-present
7. 88 - Jill Hopper (246 sets) - 2011-13
8. 87 - Courtney Stephens (428 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
35 -
Amanda Carroll (315 sets) - 2015-present
8. 28 - Daniele Serrano (202 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. 159 - Lauren Tutwiler (208 sets) - 2014-15
8. 153 - Devon Watts (60 matches*) - 2004-05
153 - Eleonora Kazarian (213 sets) - 2014-15
10. 151 - Daniele Serrano (202 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 just two shy of the all-time mark. His teams have combined for an 84-36 (.700) overall record, including a 39-13 (.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.
