DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – In the final tune-up before ASUN Conference play begins, the FGCU volleyball team (8-5) held off Bethune-Cookman (2-5) Friday night in a 3-0 (25-22, 25-13, 25-19) victory for the Green and Blue.

"I thought Karissa (Rhoades) came back from what I thought was a subpar first set to have a great night defensively. I challenged her and she rose to that and other people caught on," said head coach Matt Botsford. "Amanda (Carroll) again had a great night; to hit at that kind of efficiency when people know you're going to get the ball is very difficult. Outside of that, GioGio (Borgiotti) added another element on the right side."

Following a difficult first set that saw FGCU pull away at the end, Sharonda Pickering (Sea Cow's Bay, Tortola, British Virgin Islands/Elmore Stoutt HS) led a dominant effort along the net in the second set. The Eagles opened the match with a 25-22 win, fighting off an energetic Wildcat team feeding off their home crowd. It was the second set that set the tone, however, as Pickering and Giovanna Borgiotti (Vienna, Va./George C. Marshall HS) helped hold the Wildcats to a .033 attack percentage en route to a 25-22 win. Looking to close out the sweep, FGCU rallied late behind seven kills from Amanda Carroll (Albuquerque, N.M./Sandia HS) to claim the set 25-19 and the match.

Carroll led the Eagles with 17 kills, moving closer to second all-time in FGCU history while Pickering anchored the defense playing a role in eight blocks. Maggie Rick (Alpharetta, Ga./Blessed Trinity Catholic HS) had another solid night posting 32 assists and Karissa Rhoades (Valrico, Fla./Bloomingdale Senior HS) highlighted the floor defense recording 16 digs. Offensively, FGCU hit .281 on the night while the Wildcats finished hitting .135.

Aiding in the attack, Daniele Serrano (Sanford, Fla./Seminole HS) pitched in with eight kills, while Cortney VanLiew (Seymour, Ind./Columbus East HS) tallied seven and Pickering five.

The hosts used an energized crowd to maintain a lead until the Eagles tied the first set at 15-15 on a Wildcat error. A Carroll kill expanded the lead to 17-15 only for Bethune-Cookman to use two-straight points to tie the set. Following a side out, Rick picked up a crucial ace that set up a block from Pickering and Borgiotti. Leading 20-17, the Eagles held off a late rally, using a Rick kill and a Bethune-Cookman error to claim the set.

A tremendous effort at the net and from the floor helped FGCU take a commanding lead early. Pickering, who tallied five kills in the second set and was involved in three more blocks, led the Eagles at the net during the set. FGCU led 4-1 early and exploded from an 11-6 lead to a 19-8 lead thanks to Pickering and VanLiew. In control of the set, FGCU used a Pickering kill and a Rick ace to take a 2-0 lead into the break.

"The blocking was pretty good in the first set but we still weren't doing our job from the floor," Botsford added. "The second set it turned around though. Those two things started working in unison with one another and we held them to a low efficiency which was what we were looking for and what we needed."

Seven kills in the final set from Carroll helped to hold off the Wildcats, who kept the final set close. The Eagles took an 8-5 lead on a Serrano kill only for the home side to remain close and ultimately tie the set at 13-13. A timely tip from Rick put FGCU in front for good at 16-15 but it was not without tremendous net and floor defense from the Green and Blue. Pickering once again was a force at the net, while Rhoades, VanLiew, and Rick pitched in to dig out multiple Bethune-Cookman attacks. The Eagles held off the Wildcats to the tune of a 25-19 victory.

UP NEXT
The Eagles face a quick turnaround, opening ASUN play at Stetson tomorrow at 3 p.m. in DeLand.

FOLLOW ALONG
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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 75-33 (.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.