ESTERO, Fla. – The FGCU beach volleyball continued its successful start to the season on Wednesday with a 4-1 victory over Webber International (Fla.). The win improves the Eagles record to 7-1 – the best start in program history – while Webber slides to 4-5.
FGCU snagged 2-0 wins from the 1, 2, 3 and 5 pairs. The Eagles' only loss came at No. 4.
"I was happy to see a difference in our play today compared to the last time we met Webber," said head coach
Matt Botsford. "We are seeing a lot more consistency across the board.
Amanda (Carroll) and
Mackenzie (Allen) have made some really big strides defensively, and
Halie (Werkmeister) and
CJ (Caroline Jordan) are getting into a nice rhythm with their sideout game."
At the No. 5 spot,
Caroline Jordan (Orlando, Fla./William R. Boone HS) and
Halie Wekmeister (Spring Hill, Fla./Weeki Wachee HS) started the Eagles off right with a pair of easy set wins – 21-11 and 21-12.
In the meantime, the No. 4 pair,
Madi Wilcox (Mundelein, Ill./Mundelein HS) and
Leigh Pudwill (Lino Lakes, Minn./Centennial High School/Northern Iowa) found themselves in a tight battle with Webber's Amber Lake and Hannah Tannone. The seniors fought hard, but dropped back-to-back 22-20 heartbreakers.
The No. 3 pairing of
Katie Puisis (Mason, Ohio/William Mason HS) and
Karissa Rhoades (Valrico, Fla./Bloomingdale Senior HS) took care of business with a win in two sets by scores of 21-17 and 21-11.
When the No. 1 and 2 pairs began play, freshman
Giovanna Borgiotti (Vienna, Va./George C. Marshall HS) teamed up with
Ashley Glickert (Chesterfield, Mo/Parkway Central High School) to snag two easy sets wins – 21-16 followed by 21-9.
At No. 1
Mackenzie Allen (Naples, Fla./Gulf Coast High School) and
Amanda Carroll (Albuquerque, N.M./Sandia High School) swept their Warriors counterparts with 21-16 and 21-11 set victories.
FGCU 4, Webber International 1
1.
Carroll/Allen (FGCU) def. McDaniel/Spadaro (WIU) 21-16, 21-11
2.
Borgiotti/Glickert (FGCU) def. Baxter/Colden (WUI) 21-16, 21-9
3.
Puisis/Rhoades (FGCU) def. Calderon/Baez (WUI) 21-17, 21-11
4. Lake/ Tannone (WUI) def.
Wilcox/Pudwill (FGCU) 22-20, 22-20
5.
Werkmeister/Jordan (FGCU) def. Embry/Schueman (WUI) 21-11, 21-12
UP NEXT
The Green and Blue will take a five-day break before traveling east to square off with FAU in Boca Raton, Fla. on Monday, Mar. 27. First serves are scheduled for 4 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_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 21-37 (.362). 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.
