BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – A week that has been anything but normal saw the FGCU volleyball team travel from Davidson, N.C. to Bloomington, Indiana due to Hurricane Irma as the Eagles continue their 2017 slate. The two-day Hoosier Classic begins Friday for the Green and Blue against Samford (5 p.m.), with Saturday matchups against UNLV (10 a.m.) and Indiana (7 p.m.).

Live stats for all matches are available through IUHoosiers.com

THE GREEN AND BLUE
FGCU took two of the three matches last weekend at the Wildcat Classic on the campus of Davidson. The Green and Blue defeated Wofford in straight sets before taking a 5-set thriller over the host Wildcats. FGCU ended the weekend with a 3-0 loss to Georgia and began the trip to Indiana with a 5-4 record.

Through nine matches this season, Amanda Carroll (Albuquerque, N.M./Sandia HS) leads the team with 143 kills, 4.61 kills per set. The junior also surpasses the 1000 kill mark last weekend, becoming just the third Eagle in history to do so. Maggie Rick (Alpharetta, Ga./Blessed Trinity Catholic HS) continues her impressive career as well, posting 360 assists this season.

Fresh off an ASUN award, Cortney VanLiew (Seymour, Ind./Columbus East HS) is second on the team with 106 kills.

Defensively, Sharonda Pickering (Sea Cow's Bay, Tortola, British Virgin Islands/Elmore Stoutt HS) and Daniele Serrano (Sanford, Fla./Seminole HS) both have more than 20 blocks on the year.

SCOUTING SAMFORD
The Bulldogs enter the weekend 3-8 with wins over Southeastern Louisiana, Fairfield, and Delaware State. Krista Boesing leads Samford with 167 kills while Kelsi Hobbs adds 141 kills. The offense runs through Taylor Anderton's 395 assists.

Along the net, Sierra Rayzor has 30 blocks on the year.

This will be the first meeting between Samford and FGCU

SCOUTING UNLV
At 4-6 the Rebels are led by Mariena Hayden's 128 kills, however, both Elsa Descamps and Ashley Owens have more than 90 kills. UNLV has defeated Southern Utah, Binghamton, Eastern Washington, Weber State behind an offense that runs through Riley Jacobs and her 386 assists.

Both Decamps and Owens both are threats along the net, nearing 50 blocks.

FGCU lost the only previous matchup to UNLV in 2010, 3-2.

SCOUTING INDIANA
The Hoosiers are a perfect 9-0 this season and have only dropped four sets all season. Kendall Beerman's 97 kills lead Indiana's high-powered offense. Meanwhile, Deyshia Lofton and Elizabeth Asdell both have 75 kills. Victoria Brisack has dished out 390 assists.

Along with her offensive abilities, Lofton also leads the team with nearly 40 blocks.  

FGCU defeated Indiana last year, 3-2 in front of a packed Alico Arena.

HURRICANE IRMA
Due Hurricane Irma, FGCU's match at FIU has been postponed. No makeup date has been announced.

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 72-32 (.692) 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.