ESTERO, Fla. – The FGCU beach volleyball team (13-6, 6-4 ASUN) is set to host in-state foe No. 14 FIU (20-12, 8-5 CCSA) on Tuesday, Apr. 18 at 4 p.m. The match will serve as the Eagles final tune-up before the ASUN Championship.
 
Despite their close proximity, FGCU – which has already posted a program-record 13 wins this season – and FIU have only faced each other twice in the past with the Panthers winning both matches.
 
Prior to the first serve on Tuesday, the Eagles will take a moment to recognize their three graduating seniors, Caroline Jordan (Orlando, Fla./William R. Boone HS), Madi Wilcox (Mundelein, Ill./Mundelein HS) and
Leigh Pudwill (Lino Lakes, Minn./Centennial High School/Northern Iowa).
 
THE LAST TIME OUT
Despite a valiant effort, FGCU dropped back-to-back matches to No. 9 Stetson in its final ASUN doubleheader of the regular season last week. The Eagles fell in their first match – which began early to avoid bad weather – 4-1, before getting swept in their second match by the ASUN leaders.
 
No. 1 pair Mackenzie Allen (Naples, Fla./Gulf Coast High School) and
 Amanda Carroll (Albuquerque, N.M./Sandia High School) were the only Eagles to sneak away with a win on the evening.
 
SCOUTING FIU
The No. 14-ranked Panthers just completed their final regular season weekend tournament on Saturday at the Florida State Alumni Weekend Invitational, where they beat No. 10 Grand Canyon and No 9. Stetson, but fell to No. 4 Florida State and No. 2 Pepperdine.
 
FIU swept the Eagles 5-0 in both of their previous matches, with their last meeting taking place in 2014.
 
NEXT UP
FGCU will turn its attention back to the conference this weekend for the ASUN Championship on Saturday, Apr. 22 and Sunday, Apr. 23 in Deland Fla.
 
COACH BOTSFORD
Head coach Matt Botsford begins his fourth season at the helm of FGCU beach volleyball. He's already led the team to a program-high 13 wins in 2017. In three seasons, his beach teams have combined for an overall record of 30-43 (.411). 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