JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The FGCU beach volleyball team (7-2) starts conference play this weekend with doubleheaders against North Florida and Jacksonville. The Eagles will begin on Friday, Mar. 31 with a 12 p.m. match against UNF followed by a 2 p.m. match against JU. They will continue the action on Saturday with a 10 a.m. match against JU before taking on UNF again at 2 p.m.
 
The Green and Blue have their work cut out for them in Jacksonville, as the team owns a 4-7 all-time record against the Dolphins and a 1-14 all-time record against the Ospreys.
 
THE LAST TIME OUT
FGCU traveled to Boca Raton earlier this week and dropped a 4-1 result to No.14 FAU. The Eagles' lone victory came from No. 3 pair Katie Puisis and Karissa Rhoades.
 
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 and are now an impressive 6-3 on the season.
 
Pairs 1, 2, 4 and 5 each fell in two sets.
 
SCOUTING THE DOLPHINS
Jacksonville holds a record of 5-8 with seven of their eight losses coming from ranked teams. The Dolphins fell to No. 5 Hawaii, No. 8 Arizona, No. 10 Grand Canyon, No. 11 South Carolina, No. 12 Arizona State, No. 14 FAU (twice) and ASUN foe Mercer.
 
Their five victories come from UAB, Morehead State (twice) and Jacksonville State (twice).
 
SCOUTING THE OSPREYS
The Ospreys enter the weekend with a record of 5-7. Four of their losses come from ranked opponents – No. 15 FIU, No. 11 South Carolina, No. 10 Georgia State and No. 7 LSU.
 
In terms of like opponents, UNF downed UAB and Spring Hill twice this season, but fell 1-4 to Houston Baptist, which the Eagles defeated 3-2.
 
UP NEXT
Next weekend, the Eagles travel to Deland, Fla. for another pair of ASUN doubleheaders, this time against Mercer and Coastal Carolina. Action begins on Friday, April 7 with a noon match against the Chanticleers.
 
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.