FORT MYERS, Fla. – The FGCU volleyball team (3-0) puts its opening-weekend perfect record on the line as the Eagles welcome in-state rivals Miami (3-0), UCF (1-2) and FAU (3-0) to Alico Arena for the Homewood Suites Sunshine State Classic this weekend.

The Eagles are slated to play UCF Friday at 7 p.m. before taking on FAU Saturday at 11 a.m. and capping off the weekend with a showdown versus Miami Saturday at 7 p.m. A complete schedule of Sunshine State Classic matches can be found above or by clicking here. Live stats will be available for all matches this weekend and a video stream through Facebook Live will also be available for all matches except Friday's morning match due to scouting purposes. Links can be found above.

Friday's match versus the Knights has been deemed a Green Out and Saturday night's match against the Hurricanes will be a Blue Out. Additionally, Dirty Birds in attendance at both the volleyball and soccer games Friday will be entered into a drawing with a chance to win an iPad Mini. Be sure to check in with the FGCU Marketing Department.

WHAT'S AT STAKE
With a win Friday night against UCF, FGCU would start the season 4-0 for the first time in DI program history. The Eagles started the inaugural season in 2004 with a 6-0 record and also went 4-0 to start the 2005 season. Since then, the team had started 3-0 on just one other occasion – 2015.     
   
THE GREEN AND BLUE
FGCU turned in an impressive performance at last weekend's Hilton Garden Inn Invitational to start the season. The Eagles not only shutout each of their three opponents – FIU, Georgia Southern and IUPUI – but also outhit their counterparts .171 to .314 and allowed just 10.1 kills per set. Following their victories, the Eagles were tabbed #24 in VolleyballMag.com's first Mid-Major poll of the season.

Junior outside hitter Amanda Carroll (Albuquerque, N.M./Sandia HS), who ranks second in the country in kills per set (5.67), went on to be named the Tournament MVP, while teammates Maggie Rick (Alpharetta, Ga./Blessed Trinity Catholic HS) and Karissa Rhoades (Valrico, Fla./Bloomingdale Senior HS) also made their way onto the All-Tournament Team. Rhoades went on to be named the ASUN Defensive Player of the Week after tallying 43 digs and 4.78 digs per set. Rick accounted for 116 of FGCU's 133 assists throughout the weekend and ranks tied for fourth in the NCAA with 12.89 assists per set.

SCOUTING MIAMI
Miami is off to a 3-0 start this season after sweeping its way through the Southern Miss Invitational last weekend. The Hurricanes defeated Little Rock, 3-1, in the season opener before turning around later that night to take down Southern Miss, 3-2, in a hard-fought match. Miami then completed the weekend with a 3-0 sweep against Nicholls State.

The Hurricanes are led by senior outside hitter Olga Strantzali, who paces the team and ranks sixth in the country in kills per set (5.33). She also ranked tied for 17th with eight service aces. Junior middle blocker Lucia Pampana has registered just over one block per set, while redshirt junior Haley Templeton has accounted for 111 of the team's 151 assists.

SCOUTING UCF
UCF started the season 1-2 at last weekend's UNC Bears/CSU Rams Classic. The Knights won a hard-fought season-opener against Northern Colorado, 3-2, but dropped its next two matches of the weekend to Duke and Colorado State by respective scores of 3-2 and 3-1.

UCF has a trio of hitters tallying more than two kills per set in redshirt seniors Kia Bright (4.39) and Taylor Wickey (2.46) along with sophomore Alli Sabol (2.82). With seven players listed at 6 feet or taller, the Knights present a challenge for FGCU's offensive attack as they totaled 33 blocks last weekend and rank tied for 38th in the country in the category.

SCOUTING FAU
Like FGCU, FAU has posted a 3-0 record in the early season after sweeping its way through the Stetson Invitational last weekend. The Owls, who lead the NCAA in assists per set (16.44) and kills per set (17.11) while also rankings sixth in hitting percentage (.345), defeated Central Connecticut, Stephen F. Austin and host Stetson in straight sets last weekend. On the defensive side of the net, the Owls held their opponents to a .151 hitting percentage and 8.67 kills per set. 

Individually, Ivone Martinez leads the country with 15.11 assists per set and has accounted for 136 of the Owls' 148 assists. Sophomore outside hitter Siqourney Kame is one of three on the FAU roster with three or more kills per set. She ranks sixth in the country in the category (5.29) while also checking in at 11th in hitting percentage (.550).

CLIMING THE RECORD BOOKS
Kills (Career)
1. 1167 - Brooke Youngquist-Sweat (.246) - 2004-07
2. 1132 - Olivia Mesner (.331) - 2011-14
3. 961 - Jessica Barnes (.194) - 2010-11, 13-14
4. 951 – Amanda Carroll (.255) – 2015-Present

Points (Career)
1. 1338.0 – Olivia Mesner – 2011-14
2. 1327.5 – Brooke Youngquist – 2004-07
3. 1098.0 – Amanda Carroll – 2015-present

Assists (Career)
1. 4408 – Gigi Meyer – 2011-14
2. 3108 – Candra Lefever – 2006-07, 09
3. 2574 – Maggie Rick – 2015-present

Digs (Career)
1. 1965 – Whitney Hendry – 2004-07
2. 1687 – Whitney Masters – 2011-14
3. 1652 – Holly Youngquist – 2008-11
4. 1367 – Brooke Youngquist – 2004-07
5. 947 – Gigi Meyer – 2011-14
6. 884 – Heather Van Olst – 2004-06
7. 852 – Courtney Stephens – 2014-present
8. 765 – Chandra Lefever – 2006-07, 09
9. 681 – Vanessa Benke – 2013-15
10. 654 – Amanda Carroll – 2015-present

FOLLOW ALONG
For up-to-the minute information and a behind-the-scenes look at the FGCU volleyball program, follow on Twitter at @FGCU_VB, on Facebook at /FGCUVolleyball and on Instagram at @FGCU_VB.

COACH BOTSFORD
Head coach Matt Botsford is in his fourth season at the helm of FGCU volleyball. In 2016, Botsford's 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 70-28 (.714) 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.