ESTERO, Fla – The FGCU beach volleyball team continued their hot start to the season on Wednesday by claiming a pair of victories over in-state foe Eckerd College by the scores of 4-1 and 5-0.  Led by strong performances up and down their lineup, the Eagles swept the 1, 2, 4 and 5 pairings in a dominating effort. The Tritons fell to 4-4 on the season.
 
"Really happy with the improvements that we saw today in comparison to last Friday," said head coach Matt Botsford. "The ball control looked much better and I think that the pairs are beginning to find some more rhythm with one another. Katie (Puisis) and Karissa (Rhoades) played 2 great matches and are showing a lot of poise and confidence. I think they compliment each other very well, and you can see them growing as a team each time they are on the court together. Also happy to see Giovanna (Borgiotti) and Halie (Werkmeister) get their first collegiate wins on the beach side."
 
At No. 5, senior Caroline Jordan (Orlando, Fla./William R. Boone HS) won both of her matches alongside sophomore Kaitlan Krivdo (Hope Mills, N.C./Grays Creek HS) in a three-set match one, and Werkmeister in quick two-set match two.
 
No. 1 pairing Mackenzie Allen (Naples, Fla./Gulf Coast High School) and Amanda Carroll (Albuquerque, N.M./Sandia High School) had a dominant outing for the Green and Blue, as the duo shutout the Tritons 2-0 in both games.
 
The pairing of Rhoades and Puisis remained undefeated at the No. 3 spot on the season.  The pair dismantled the Tritons in match one by the scores of 21-12 and 21-17.  In match two, the sophomores notched a thrilling three-set victory.  The duo won a tight first set by the score of 21-18 before a dropping a thrilling 27-25 set 2.  They captured the third set 15-9 for the win.
 
The Eagles senior pairing came through for the Eagles, as tandem Madi Wilcox (Mundelein, Ill./Mundelein HS) and Leigh Pudwill (Lino Lakes, Minn./Centennial High School/Northern Iowa) got back to their winning ways with a pair tightly contested three-set wins at the No. 4 spot.
 
The only Tritons win of the day came in a close game one, No. 2 bout. Borgiotti and Ashley Glickert (Chesterfield, Mo/Parkway Central High School) worked hard in the first set, but fell just short at 19-21. After an impressive 21-10 win in set two, the duo dropped set three by a score of 11-15.  The pair got back in the winning column in match two, as they staked a quick two-set victory by the scores of 21-13 and 21-15.
 
UP NEXT
The Green and Blue will travel to Baton Rouge, LA to compete in the Tiger Beach Challenge, where the Eagles will play four matches.  Their opposition includes UAB, Houston Baptist, Spring Hill (ALA.) and South Carolina, playing at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. on both March 18th and 19th.
 
FOLLOW ALONG
For up-to-the minute information and a behind-the-scenes look at the FGCU volleyball program, follow on Twitter at @FGCU_BeachVB, on Facebook at /FGCUVolleyball and on Instagram at @FGCU_VB.
 
COACH BOTSFORD
Head coach Matt Botsford begins his fourth season at the helm of FGCU beach volleyball in 2017. Last season, Botsfords squad produced a program-high 11 wins. In three seasons, his beach teams have combined for an overall record of 20-37 (.351). In 2016, Botsford's indoor 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 overall 65-27 (.707) record, including a 32-10 (.762) mark in ASUN play. In his inaugural season, the Eagles finished with a record of 19-11 with a second-place ASUN finish. Botsford has coached 15 All-Conference 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.