Matchup: FGCU (15-6, 7-1 ASUN) vs North Florida (8-16, 2-5 ASUN)
When: Oct. 19 | 7 PM ET | Alico Arena
Links: Live Stats | Video
Coaches: Matt Botsford (5th season at FGCU – 104-44 (.703); same overall) | Kristen Wright (1st season at North Florida – 8-16 (.333); same overall)
Promotions: Rally at The Roc at 4:30 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. | Spirit Cup Challenge | Prizes and giveaways in the Dirty Bird section | Beat Cancer Fundraiser (pre-match sales of pink shirts to support the American Cancer Society)

Matchup: FGCU vs Jacksonville (3-18, 2-7 ASUN)
When: Oct. 21 | 2 PM ET | Alico Arena
Links: Live Stats | Video
Coach: Evan Muys (1st season at Jacksonville – 3-18 (.143); same overall)
Promotions: Beat Cancer Fundraiser (pre-match sales of pink shirts to support the American Cancer Society)

Matchup: FGCU vs Florida International (13-7)
When: Oct. 23 | 7 PM ET | Alico Arena
Links: Live Stats | Video
Coach: Rita Buck-Crockett (6th season at FIU – 63-95 (.399); same overall)
Promotions: Beat Cancer Fundraiser (pre-match sales of pink shirts to support the American Cancer Society)

FORT MYERS, Fla. – The FGCU volleyball team (15-6) will compete in three matches over the next five days, including a pair of ASUN competitions where the Green and Blue will look to remain on pace with Kennesaw State for a chance at the regular season championship.

ASUN CHASE
There are four teams currently still alive in the conference championship race – Kennesaw State (8-0), FGCU (7-1), Lipscomb (6-2) and Liberty (5-3). Kennesaw State edged Lipscomb 29-31, 25-14, 27-25, 22-25, 15-9 in a thriller on Wednesday that could have moved the top three teams into a three-way tie for first place. Each team has played each other once so far, so there is still a lot yet to be determined.

1. Kennesaw State – 17-4, 8-0
2. FGCU – 15-6, 7-1
3. Lipscomb – 11-9, 6-2
4. Liberty – 8-13, 5-3
5. Stetson – 12-9, 4-5
6. North Florida – 8-16, 2-5
6. NJIT – 4-19, 2-5
8. Jacksonville – 3-18, 2-7
9. North Alabama – 2-15, 0-8

SERIES HISTORY
FGCU is a combined 44-22 all-time against North Florida, Jacksonville and FIU.

The Green and Blue holds a 17-11 record against Jacksonville dating back to the first-ever meeting on Sept. 29, 2006, although they've handed the Dolphins defeats in six of the past seven and hold an 8-4 record in Alico Arena. The Eagles are looking for just the program's third regular season sweep of Jacksonville in the past six seasons (2012, 2016) following a straight-set win on Sept. 21. In that meeting, Maggie Rick had a match-high 22 assists while Dana Axner had 10 digs, while the team hit .382 overall.

FGCU has won 21 of 27 all-time meetings against North Florida in a series that dates back to each of the program's Division-II eras. They first met on Nov. 19, 2004 with UNF achieving wins in the first two matchups. The teams have split their past four meetings and the last time the Eagles picked up a regular season sweep was in 2015. At home, the Green and Blue own a dominant 10-0 record with wins in 30 of 33 sets, including eight in three-set fashion.

In the first meeting with North Florida this year, FGCU picked up a straight set win behind Cortney VanLiew's 20 kill, nine dig effort.

The series with FIU is a bit interesting. After the Panthers swept the first five meetings dating back to Nov. 6, 2007, the Eagles have reeled off eight straight victories. They are 4-2 in Alico Arena.

RPI
FGCU currently ranks 94th in the latest RPI poll. They are 4-4 against RPI top 100 teams including No. 13 UCF (0-2), No. 15 Miami (1-0), No. 78 New Mexico State (1-0), No. 80 Kennesaw State (0-1), No. 91 Florida Atlantic (1-0), No. 92 Yale (1-0) and No. 95 West Virginia (0-1).

VERSATILITY
Maggie Rick (535), Chelsey Lockey (270) and Dana Axner (85) are looking to become just the second trio in program history to record at least 100 assists in one season. They would join the 2012 group of Gigi Meyer (683), Courtney Greenberg (510) and Whitney Masters (121).

In fact, only four times in program history has an FGCU volleyball team had at least two players with at least 100 assists:

2012 – Gigi Meyer (683), Courtney Greenberg (510), Whitney Masters (121)
2011 – Gigi Meyer (1050), Camil Dominguez (202)
2007 – Roberta Santos (606), Chandra Lefever (523)
2005 – Laura Manovill (689), Ciara Sandoval (679)

Rick (Alpharetta, Ga./Blessed Trinity Catholic HS) currently has 4,220 assists, which is 189 shy of eclipsing Meyer's career record (4,408, 2011-14). With nine regular season matches left, she would need to average 21 per match to become the all-time leader. Lockey (Eaton, Colo./Eaton HS), meanwhile, has a pair of double-doubles this year and has recorded at least 16 assists in three of the past four matches.

BURN 'EM
Snowy Burnam is coming off a performance on Tuesday against Bethune-Cookman in which she produced a season-high 13 kills and a career-high 18 digs. She also hit .278 in what was her second consecutive double-digit kill output, and she now has at least 15 digs in two of the past three matches. It was her fifth career double-double, but the first of this season.

Over her past eight matches, Burnam (Palm City, Fla./Jensen Beach HS) has hit at least .250 five times, including a season-high .429 against NJIT. Prior to that, she only reached that plateau three times – which spanned 13 matches.

SOPHOMORE SLUMP?
VanLiew (Seymour, Ind./Columbus East HS) has had a breakout sophomore campaign. After six double-doubles last year, she has added nine more already this year, including 16 kills, 12 digs and two assists in her team's win over Bethune-Cookman on Tuesday. She has 17 matches with at least 10 kills, including eight straight, along with double-digit digs in 11. Furthermore, she sits one kill shy of 300 on the season and 10 shy of surpassing her total from all of last season, and she's done so at a far more efficient rate by hitting .255, which is .054 better than her freshman year.

Following her performance against Bethune-Cookman, VanLiew now has 607 career kills, which places her ninth in the program's Division-I era, just 43 behind Jelena Simic (649, 2009-11) for eighth.

FINDING HER PLACE
Freshman middle blocker Tori Morris (Virginia Beach, Va./Floyd E. Kellam HS) has performed well off the bench this year. Despite limited time on the court, she has averaged 1.12 blocks per set, which ranks third-best on the team, but fourth-best among all ASUN players.

STEPPING UP
Sharonda Pickering has had a breakout senior campaign after transferring in from Hillsborough Community College prior to her junior season. She has nearly five times the amount of kills this year (140) that she had all of last year (34) in one fewer match. Meanwhile, after hitting .293 in 2017, she is slamming them home at a .426 clip this year, which is the best in the conference and third-best in the nation.

Pickering (Sea Cow's Bay, Tortola, British Virgin Islands/Elmore Stoutt HS) has also increased her blocks per set by 0.21 this year, doubled her block assist total and quadrupled her digs per set.

RECORD-BREAKING CAMPAIGN
Axner (Dublin, Ohio/Dublin Coffman HS), who is the two-time reigning ASUN freshman of the week, is up to 356 digs this year. After a match-high 20 in the win over Bethune-Cookman, the freshman libero has reached that number six times this year, including four in the past six outings. She has nine straight with at least 10 and six straight with 18 or more. Her season-total is the 11th most in the program's Division-I era, and she's 14 shy of moving into the top 10.

ELITE COMPANY
Daniele Serrano (Sanford, Fla./Seminole HS) became one of just two players in program history along with Olivia Mesner to compile 500 kills and 300 blocks following her seven-kill, five-block performance against Bethune-Cookman on Tuesday. She also hit .300 in that match and ranks among the ASUN's top five in hitting percentage (3rd, .344), block assists (1st, 86), total blocks (1st, 99) and blocks per set (1st, 1.38).

NORTH FLORIDA NOTES
Sophomore middle blocker Devyn Wheeler is a key piece to UNF's success this year. In UNF's wins, she averages 12.25 kills per match, while that drops to 5.75 in losses. She is coming off a 19-kill performance against North Alabama. Madilyn McCarty, a senior setter who had 1,229 assists as a freshman at Winthrop, had 54 against North Alabama and is just two assists shy of 2,000 at UNF. The Ospreys will travel to Liberty on Sunday to close out their weekend.

JACKSONVILLE NOTES
The Dolphins picked up a big win for the program with a 25-13, 25-23, 22-25, 16-25, 15-12 win over Stetson this past Tuesday. They entered the match having lost three straight overall with a 1-7 record in ASUN play, but got a season-high 49 assists along with 10 digs from senior setter Lauren Peterson. They will travel to Liberty for an ASUN tilt on Friday before Sunday's match in Alico.

FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL NOTES
The Panthers feature nine international players and a 13-7 record, which is on pace to be the program's best season since a 15-13 finish in 2015. They have had five losing seasons mixed in around that campaign over the past six years.

ASUN TOP 10 LEADERS (INDIVIDUAL)
Kills – Cortney VanLiew (2nd, 299)
Kills/Set – Cortney VanLiew (2nd, 4.04)
Hitting Percentage – Sharonda Pickering (1st, .426), Daniele Serrano (3rd, .334)
Assists – Maggie Rick (7th, 535), Chelsey Lockey (10th, 270)
Assists/Set – Maggie Rick (6th, 7.23)
Aces – Karissa Rhoades (5th, 22)
Digs – Dana Axner (3rd, 356)
Digs/Set – Dana Axner (2nd, 4.81)
Solo Blocks – Daniele Serrano (T-8th, 13)
Block Assists – Daniele Serrano (1st, 86), Sharonda Pickering (T-4th, 71)
Total Blocks – Daniele Serrano (1st, 99), Sharonda Pickering (8th, 79)
Blocks/Set – Daniele Serrano (1st, 1.38),  Sharonda Pickering (3rd, 1.13), Tori Morris (4th, 1.12)
Points – Cortney VanLiew (T-4th, 328.0)
Points/Set – Cortney VanLiew (2nd, 4.4)

ASUN TOP 10 LEADERS (TEAM)
Kills – 4th, 1,002
Kills/Set – 2nd, 13.54
Hitting Percentage – 1st, .255
Assists – 4th, 938
Assists/Set – 3rd, 12.68
Aces – 5th, 94
Aces/Set – 4th, 1.27
Digs – 4th, 1,193
Digs/Set – 2nd, 16.12
Solo Blocks – 4th, 42
Block Assists – T-1st, 324
Total Blocks – 2nd, 204
Blocks/Set – 1st, 2.76
Points – T-3rd, 1,300.00
Points/Set – 1st, 17.6

NATIONAL LEADERS (TEAM)
Opponent Hitting Percentage – 2nd, .136
Blocks/Set – 14th, 2.76
Total Blocks – 18th, 204.0
Hitting Percentage – 34th, .255
Assists/Set – 58th, 12.68
Kills/Set – 57th, 13.54
Digs/Set – 75th, 16.12

NATIONAL LEADERS (INDIVIDUAL)
Kills – Cortney VanLiew (40th, 299)
Kills/Set – Cortney VanLiew (42nd, 4.04)
Digs – Dana Axner (64th, 356)
Digs/Set – Dana Axner (69th, 4.81)
Blocks – Daniele Serrano (18th, 99)
Blocks/Set – Daniele Serrano (24th, 1.38)
Points – Cortney VanLiew (50th, 328.0)
Points/Set – Cortney VanLiew (58th, 4.43)
Hitting Percentage – Sharonda Pickering (3rd, .426)
 
FGCU CAREER RECORD BOOK

Kills
1. 1,395 - Amanda CARROLL (.259) - 2015-present
2. 1,173 - Brooke YOUNGQUIST (.245) - 2004-07
3. 1,132 - Olivia MESNER (.331) - 2011-14
4. 961 - Jessica BARNES (.194) - 2010-11,13-14
5. 926 - Kaitlin HOLM (.227) - 2011-13
6. 837 - Ericka FONSECA (.363) - 2005-06
7. 725 - Jill HOPPER (.203) - 2011-13
8. 700 - Heather VAN OLST (.212) - 2004-06
9. 693 - Eleonora KAZARIAN (.225) - 2014-15
10. 678 - Ana KOKANOVIC (.281) - 2007-08
 
Kills per set (min. 50 sets)
1. 4.01 - Amanda CARROLL (348 sets) - 2015-present
2. 3.88 - Ericka FONSECA (216 sets) - 2005-06
3. 3.81 - Ana KOKANOVIC (178 sets) - 2007-08
4. 3.39 - Brooke YOUNGQUIST (346 sets) - 2004-07
5. 3.37 - Cortney VANLIEW (180 sets) - 2017-present
6. 3.25 - Eleonora KAZARIAN (213 sets) - 2014-15
7. 3.13 - Devon WATTS (212 sets) - 2004-05
8. 3.03 - Kristy HARTLEY (92 sets) - 2004
9. 3.02 - Jelena SIMIC (215 sets) - 2009,11
10. 2.95 - Jill HOPPER (246 sets) - 2011-13
 
Attack pct. (min. 150 attempts)
1. .403 - Cara ZIEGLER (312-56-636) - 2006-07
2. .395 - Sharonda PICKERING (174-34-354) - 2017-present
3. .363 - Ericka FONSECA (837-184-1,801) - 2005-06
4. .349 - Daniele SERRANO (525-112-1,184) - 2016-present
5. .331 - Olivia MESNER (1,132-353-2,356) - 2011-14
 
Assists
1. 4,408 - Gigi MEYER (474 sets) - 2011-14
2. 4,220 - Maggie RICK (421 sets) - 2015-present
3. 3,108 - Chandra LEFEVER (309 sets) - 2006-07, 09
4. 1,809 - Laura MANOVILL (186 sets) - 2004-05
5. 1,475 - Roberta SANTOS (180 sets) - 2007-08
6. 1089 - Camil DOMINGUEZ (164 sets) - 2010-11
7. 679 - Ciara SANDOVAL (85 sets) - 2005
8. 510 - Courtney GREENBERG (115 sets) - 2012-13
9. 309 - Whitney MASTERS (483 sets) - 2011-14
10. 271 - Chelsey LOCKEY (66 sets) – 2018-present

 
Assists per set (min. 50 sets)
1. 10.06 - Chandra LEFEVER (309 sets) - 2006-07,09
2. 10.02 - Maggie RICK (421 sets) - 2015-present
3. 9.73 - Laura MANOVILL (186 sets) - 2004-05
4. 9.30 - Gigi MEYER (474 sets) - 2011-14
5. 8.19 - Roberta SANTOS (180 sets) - 2007-08
6. 7.99 - Ciara SANDOVAL (85 sets) - 2005
7. 6.64 - Camil DOMINGUEZ (164 sets) - 2010-11
8. 4.43 - Courtney GREENBERG (115 sets) - 2012-13
9. 4.11 - Chelsey LOCKEY (66 sets) – 2018-present
10. 2.11 - Marina ADAMI (54 sets) - 2015-16

 
Service aces
1. 139 - Ana KOKANOVIC (178 sets) - 2007-08
2. 101 - Amanda CARROLL (348 sets) - 2015-present
3. 100 - Brooke YOUNGQUIST (346 sets) - 2004-07
4. 99 - Gigi MEYER (474 sets) - 2011-14
    99 - Roberta SANTOS (180 sets) - 2007-08
6. 92 - Whitney HENDRY (390 sets) - 2004-07
    92 - Courtney STEPHENS (451 sets) - 2014-17
8. 88 - Jill HOPPER (246 sets) - 2011-13
9. 85 - Maggie RICK (421 sets) - 2015-present
10. 78 - Whitney MASTERS (483 sets) - 2011-14

Serve pct. (min. 50 serves)
1. .976 - Marina ADAMI (83 serves) - 2015-16
2. .974 - Snowy BURNAM (230 serves) - 2017-present
3. .965 - Karina MAMBUCA (854 serves) - 2012-13
4. .964 - Ciara SANDOVAL (251 serves) - 2005
5. .960 - Caitlin SHAWVER (622 serves) - 2008-10
6. .959 - Adrianne MCNALLY (217 serves) - 2010
7. .957 - Gigi MEYER (1797 serves) - 2011-14
8. .955 - Dana AXNER (291 serves) – 2018-present
9. .954 - Ericka FONSECA (593 serves) - 2005-06
10. .950 - Whitney HENDRY (1169 serves) - 2004-07
 
Digs
1. 1,965 - Whitney HENDRY (390 sets) - 2004-07
2. 1,687 - Whitney MASTERS (483 sets) - 2011-14
3. 1,652 - Holly YOUNGQUIST (418 sets) - 2008-11
4. 1,369 - Brooke YOUNGQUIST (346 sets) - 2004-07
5. 1,084 - Courtney STEPHENS (451 sets) - 2014-17
6. 1,002 - Amanda CARROLL (348 sets) - 2015-present
7. 947 - Gigi MEYER (474 sets) - 2011-14
8. 884 - Heather VAN OLST (276 sets) - 2004-06
9. 860 - Karissa RHOADES (335 sets) - 2015-present
10. 765 - Chandra LEFEVER (309 sets) - 2006-07,09
 
Solo Blocks
1. 62 - Olivia MESNER (428 sets) - 2011-14
2. 51 - Ericka FONSECA (216 sets) - 2005-06
3. 46 - Daniele SERRANO (297 sets) - 2016-present
4. 45 - Ashley YANCE (313 sets) - 2005-09
5. 39 - Devon WATTS (212 sets) - 2004-05
6. 38 - Amanda CARROLL (348 sets) - 2015-present
    38 - Kaitlin HOLM (359 sets) - 2011-13
 
Block assists
1. 280 - Olivia MESNER (428 sets) - 2011-14
2. 254 - Daniele SERRANO (297 sets) - 2016-present
3. 242 - Ashley YANCE (313 sets) - 2005-09
4. 196 - Ericka FONSECA (216 sets) - 2005-06
5. 180 - Marlene MOELLER (301 sets) - 2013-16
 
Total blocks
1. 342 - Olivia MESNER (428 sets) - 2011-14
2. 300 - Daniele SERRANO (297 sets) - 2016-present
3. 287 - Ashley YANCE (313 sets) - 2005-09
4. 247 - Ericka FONSECA (216 sets) - 2005-06
5. 205 - Kaitlin HOLM (359 sets) - 2011-13
6. 197 - Karina MAMBUCA (233 sets) - 2012-13
    197 - Marlene MOELLER (301 sets) - 2013-16
8. 195 - Devon WATTS (212 sets) - 2004-05
9. 189 - Amanda CARROLL (348 sets) - 2015-present
10. 170 - Lauren TUTWILER (208 sets) - 2014-15
 
Matches played
1. 126 - Gigi MEYER - 2011-14
    126 - Courtney STEPHENS - 2014-17
    126 - Whitney MASTERS - 2011-14
4. 119 - Caroline JORDAN - 2013-16
5. 118 - Maggie RICK - 2015-present
6. 116 - Whitney HENDRY - 2004-07
7. 114 - Olivia MESNER - 2011-14
8. 113 - Holly YOUNGQUIST - 2008-11
9. 100 - Karissa RHOADES - 2015-present
10. 108 - Brooke YOUNGQUIST - 2004-07

ASUN CAREER RECORD BOOK

Hitting Percentage (min.  .333)
1. Sharonda Pickering (FGCU, 2017-present) - .395
2. Piper Morgan (UCF, 2001) - .381
3. Andrea Shanks (Samford, 2001) - .379
4. Tamara Aldridge (Georgia State, 2001) - .377
5. Anna Popenko (Georgia State, 2001) - .371
5. Amanda Chapman (Mercer, 2001) - .371
7. Daniele Serrano (FGCU, 2016-present) - .349
 
Kills (min. 1,275)
1. Megan Devine (ETSU, 2010-13) – 1,940
2. Alex Kelly (Lipscomb, 2007-10) – 1,746
3. Lauren Ford (Lipscomb, 2011-14) – 1,597
4. Paige Pridgeon (North Florida, 2009-12) – 1,593
5. Maggie Johnson (Belmont, 2008-11) - 1,558
6. Lindsay Cleveland (Belmont, 2002-05) - 1,552
7. Jewell Dobson (Lipscomb, 2011-15) - 1,525
8. Amanda Carroll (FGCU, 2015-present) - 1,395
9. Katie Plummer (Mercer, 2001-04) - 1,390
10. Sammie Strausbaugh (Jacksonville, 2012-14) - 1,366
 
Kills Per Set (min. 3.60)
1. Leyre Sante (UCF, 2001-02) – 4.69
2. Carlyle Nusbaum (Lipscomb, 2015-present) – 4.52
3. Rachel Hassan (Troy, 2001-03) – 4.46
4. Anna Popenko (Georgia State, 2001) – 4.35
5. Erika van Hootegem (Troy, 2001) – 4.18
6. Amanda Carroll (FGCU, 2015-present) – 4.01
 
Assists (min. 2,500)
1. Colleen Nilson (Belmont, 2004-07) – 5,636
2. April DeCoste (Georgia State, 2001-04) – 5,391
3. Stefine "Jake" Pease (Lipscomb, 2007-10) – 5,159
4. Kendall Courtney (Jacksonville, 2010-13) – 4,851
5. Sara Metroka (Kennesaw State, 2010-13) – 4,427
6. Gigi Meyer (FGCU, 2011-14) – 4,408
7. Maggie Rick (FGCU, 2015-present) – 4,220
8. Jenny Frank (UCF, 2001-03) – 4,102
9. Kristi Piedimonte (Kennesaw State, 2014-17) – 4,005
10. Kayla Weller (Stetson, 2012-15) – 3,789
 
FGCU Weekly ASUN Awards
Aug. 27 - Player of the Week - Cortney VanLiew; Freshman of the Week – Dana Axner
Sept. 4 - Defensive Player of the Week – Daniele Serrano; Freshman of the Week – Dana Axner
Sept. 10 - Defensive Player of the Week – Dana Axner
Sept. 24 – Freshman of the Week - Chelsey Lockey
Oct. 8 - Freshman of the Week – Dana Axner
Oct. 15 - Defensive Player of the Week – Daniele Serrano; Freshman of the Week – Dana Axner
 
FOLLOW ALONG
For up-to-the minute information and a behind-the-scenes look at the FGCU volleyball program, follow us on Twitter at @FGCU_VB, on Facebook at /FGCUVolleyball and on Instagram at @FGCU_VB.
 
COACH BOTSFORD
Matt Botsford is in his fifth season as head coach of the FGCU women's volleyball program in 2018 after being hired on Feb. 10, 2014. In his four plus seasons, Botsford-led teams have compiled a 104-44 (.703) record overall, including a 49-15 (.766) record in ASUN play. He has taken the program to heights it has not seen in the Division-I era (2007-present) – registering at least 20 wins overall in three straight seasons and at least 10 wins in conference play four straight seasons. Furthermore, the team's offensive efficiency has drastically improved since Botsford started. In his first two seasons, his squad produced hitting percentages of .212 and .220. The past two, which have seen .267 and .256 percentages, are the third and fourth highest in program history. All four seasons under Botsford have seen a top-3 ASUN regular season finish and at least an ASUN semifinal appearance. His first two campaigns resulted in regular season runner-up finishes, and the past two have seen the Eagles advance to the tournament championship. On Sept. 10, 2016, Botsford led his team to a five-set win over Indiana in Alico Arena, which signified the program's first-ever win over a team from a Power-5 conference.
 
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 contribute, please visit www.fgcu.edu/foodpantry and utilize the hashtag #FeedFGCU to help.