DAVIDSON, N.C. – Kicking off nearly a month-long road trip, the FGCU volleyball team (3-3) travels to Davidson, N.C., to compete in the Wildcat Classic this weekend. The Eagles take on Wofford Friday at 4:30 p.m. before squaring off with host Davidson Saturday at 12 p.m. and wrapping up the weekend against Georgia Saturday at 4 p.m.

Live stats will be available for all matches, and a live stream will also be available for FGCU's match versus Davidson on Saturday. Links for both can be found above.

THE GREEN AND BLUE
FGCU welcomed Miami, UCF and FAU to Alico Arena for the Homewood Suites Sunshine State Classic last weekend but, although they hung tough and took a number of sets to deuce point throughout the weekend, came up winless against its in-state rivals. The Eagles dropped five sets by a combined 10 points in their three matches.

Middle blocker Daniele Serrano (Sanford, Fla./Seminole HS) played efficiently all weekend as she totaled 26 kills with a .414 hitting percentage, registered 11 total blocks and was named to the All-Tournament Team. Additionally, Maggie Rick (Alpharetta, Ga./Blessed Trinity Catholic HS) and Amanda Carroll (Albuquerque, N.M./Sandia HS) continued to play key roles in the FGCU attack. Rick currently ranks 10th in the NCAA in assists per set (12.05) while Carroll checks in at 11th in the country in kills per set (4.85). In large part due to the production of their junior leaders, the Green and Blue rank in the top-35 in the NCAA in kills per set (14.25) and assists per set (13.35).

SCOUTING DAVIDSON
Coming off a 3-0 weekend against Savannah State, Morehead State and William & Mary, Davidson has posted a 5-1 record to start the season after also recording wins against Appalachian State and Loyola (Md.) in the season-opening weekend of action.

As a team, the Wildcats are hitting .256 while holding their opponents to a .174 clip. Individually, Kelly Friers leads the way from an offensive standpoint with 3.05 kills per set, while Ellie Crosley ranks inside the top-50 in the NCAA with in an efficient .420 hitting percentage. Additionally, coming off a weekend in which she registered 24 kills, hit .370 and turned in seven blocks, Katharine Franz was named the MVP of the Colonial Classic.

SCOUTING GEORGIA
After winning its first five matches of the season in straight sets, Georgia dropped its first contest of 2017 to High Point (3-1) but responded to win its final match of last weekend's Bobcat Invitational in Athens, Ohio, with a straight-set win against Oklahoma.

The Bulldogs enter the weekend ranked 15th in the country in hitting percentage (.296) and 30th in kills per set (14.27) – just ahead of FGCU at 34th. Additionally, the Bulldogs get it done on the other side of the net as they rank 31st in the NCAA in opponent's hitting percentage (.142).
Georgia has racked up three SEC weekly awards this season as Meghan Donovan and Kendall Glover were named the Setter of the Week and Freshman of the Week, respectively, following last weekend's action. T'ara Ceasar was also named the Freshman of the Week after the season-opening weekend.

SCOUTING WOFFORD
Riding a five-match win streak, Wofford has posted a 5-2 record to this point in the season and is coming off four consecutive straight-set wins against Winthrop, USC Upstate, NC Central and Gardner-Webb. The Terriers began the season with hard-fought losses to George Washington and Tennessee.

After recording 62 kills, turning in a .317 hitting percentage and averaging 5.64 kills per set in four matches, outside hitter Catie Cronister was named the MVP of the AmericInn Runnin' Bulldogs Invitational and went on to earn Southern Conference Player of the Week honors. With 4.58 kills per set and 110 total kills this season, she ranks tied for 21st in the NCAA in both categories. Sophomore setter Lorissa King is the Terriers' floor general and have accounted for 265 of the team's 296 assists.

CLIMING THE RECORD BOOKS
Attack Pct. (Career)
1. .403 – Cara Ziegler – 2006-07
2. .384 – Daniele Serrano – 2016-present
3. .363 – Ericka Fonseca – 2005-06

Kills (Career)
1. 1167 - Brooke Youngquist-Sweat (.246) - 2004-07
2. 1132 - Olivia Mesner (.331) - 2011-14
3. 997 – Amanda Carroll (.255) – 2015-Present

Points (Career)
1. 1338.0 – Olivia Mesner – 2011-14
2. 1327.5 – Brooke Youngquist – 2004-07
3. 1147.5 – Amanda Carroll – 2015-present

Assists (Career)
1. 4408 – Gigi Meyer – 2011-14
2. 3108 – Candra Lefever – 2006-07, 09
3. 2699 – 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. 875 – Courtney Stephens – 2014-present
8. 765 – Chandra Lefever – 2006-07, 09
9. 687 – 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 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 70-31 (.693) 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.