BOCA RATON, Fla. – The FGCU beach volleyball team dropped a 4-1 result to FAU on Monday afternoon. The Eagles' lone victory came from No. 3 pair
Katie Puisis and
Karissa Rhoades.
"FAU played a great match today, and their depth across the five pairs was just too much to overcome," said head coach
Matt Botsford. "Obviously we are very encouraged with what Katie and Karissa were able to do today against a tough opponent, but overall there were just to many unforced errors. I really thought the serve and pass game let us down as we could not pressure FAU the way we would have liked to."
Puisis (Mason, Ohio/William Mason HS) and
Rhoades (Valrico, Fla./Bloomingdale Senior HS) took down their FAU counterparts with decisive 21-15 and 21-10 set wins.
Pairs 1, 2, 4 and 5 each fell in two sets.
At the No. 1 spot,
Mackenzie Allen (Naples, Fla./Gulf Coast High School) and
Amanda Carroll (Albuquerque, N.M./Sandia High School) came close to a victory in their first game but ended up falling in straight sets to FAU's Jessalyn Kinlaw and Megan Rice.
No. 2 pair
Giovanna Borgiotti (Vienna, Va./George C. Marshall HS) and
Ashley Glickert (Chesterfield, Mo/Parkway Central High School) dropped back-to-back sets by scores of 21-15 and 21-16.
Madi Wilcox (Mundelein, Ill./Mundelein HS) and
Leigh Pudwill (Lino Lakes, Minn./Centennial High School/Northern Iowa) took their first set into extras before falling 22-20 to FAU's No. 4 pair. The Owls captured the second set 21-16.
At No. 5,
Caroline Jordan (Orlando, Fla./William R. Boone HS) and
Halie Wekmeister (Spring Hill, Fla./Weeki Wachee HS) fell in straight sets by scores of 21-13 and 21-16.
FAU 4, FGCU 1
1. Kinlaw/Rice (FAU) def.
Allen/Carroll (FGCU) 21-18, 21-15
2. Lacour/Dischler (FAU) def.
Borgiotti/Glickert (FGCU) 21-15, 21-16
3.
Puisis/Rhoades (FGCU) def. Pellitteri/Gott (FAU) 21-15, 21-10
4. Navarro/Grant (FAU) def.
Wilcox/Pudwill (FGCU) 22-20, 21-16
5. Ristic/Barker (FAU) def.
Jordan/Werkmeister (FGCU) 21-13, 21-16
UP NEXT
FGCU begins ASUN play in Jacksonville with matches against UNF and JU. The Green and Blue face North Florida at noon and Jacksonville at 2 p.m. on Friday Mar. 31. The teams meet again on Saturday, Apr. 1 starting with Jacksonville at 10 a.m. and North Florida at 2 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 21-38 (.356). 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.
