FORT MYERS, Fla. – The FGCU volleyball team (3-1) suffered its first loss of the season as the Eagles fell in four sets (22-25, 23-25, 25-18, 12-25) to UCF (3-2) Friday evening at Alico Arena as part of the Homewood Suites Sunshine State Classic.

After being challenged by a stout UCF defense in an opening-frame loss and dropping a hard-fought second set, the Eagles battled back to win the third frame and swing the momentum to their side. However, after jumping out to an early lead in the fourth set, the visiting Knights were able to reclaim the momentum and seal the match.

Sophomore middle blocker Daniele Serrano (Sanford, Fla./Seminole HS) headlined the FGCU attack as she tallied a season-high 12 kills while hitting .500 on the night. Additionally, she registered three digs with a solo block and block assist. Outside hitters Cortney VanLiew (Seymour, Ind./Columbus East HS) and Amanda Carroll (Albuquerque, N.M./Sandia HS) each turned in double-doubles with 16 kills and 11 kills, respectively. It was Carroll's second straight double-double and VanLiew's first of her young career. With 11 kills in the match, Carroll moves into third place in FGCU history with 962 career kills.

After entering the match with a .314 hitting percentage, FGCU was held to a .133 clip in the match. The Eagles were outhit in three of four frames and ultimately tallied 47 kills to UCF's 50.

"UCF, defensively, did about everything right in the first set, and we struggled from the offensive side of the ball to the point that it was frustrating our hitters," said FGCU head coach Matt Botsford. "Game two was much more competitive and I thought we had a chance to steal it there at the end, but UCF was again able to slow down our big hitters and change the complexity of the game. We didn't respond particularly well to what they were doing, and that was probably the most disappointing thing. Dani Serrano was phenomenal tonight, but it was tough to get her as involved as we probably should have with her being in the middle. That was an efficient performance from her, though."

Despite being held to less than a .200 hitting percentage for just the second set of the season in the opening frame against UCF, the Eagles hung tough and cut the Knights' lead to two on a trio of occasions in the closing points of the set. That's as close as the Green and Blue would get, though, before dropping their first set of the season.

Locked in a back-and-forth, hard-fought second set, a kill from Sharonda Pickering (Sea Cow's Bay, Tortola, British Virgin Islands/Elmore Stout HS/Hillsborough CC) gave FGCU a 17-16 lead, and the two teams battled to a 23-23 deadlock after both sides rattled off quick four-point runs. However, a kill from UCF's Kristina Fischer and FGCU receiving error gave the Knights a 2-0 lead.

The Eagles were able to seize the momentum in the third set behind strong performances from Serrano and Carroll. After falling behind early, FGCU responded to tie the set at eight, and neither team held more than a one-point advantage until FGCU went on a four-point run to open up a 17-13 lead. Three straight kills by Carroll extended the lead to 21-14 before the Eagles forced a fourth set with a 25-18 win. FGCU's junior standout recorded six kills and seven digs in the frame, while Serrano tallied five kills on .714 hitting.

FGCU then squandered an early lead in the fourth frame and UCF was able to seize the Eagles' momentum. Trailing 5-2, the Knights were able to assume the lead at 7-6 and never looked back as the advantage blossomed to 19-9 before the visitors ultimately claimed the match.

UP NEXT
The Eagles are back in action in the second and final day of the Homewood Suites Sunshine State Classic and will square off with FAU at 11 a.m. and Miami at 7 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_VB, on Facebook at /FGCUVolleyball and on Instagram at @FGCU_VB.

COACH BOTSFORD
Head coach Matt Botsford finished his third season at the helm of the 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 70-29 (.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.