FORT MYERS, Fla. - Head coach Matt Botsford and the FGCU beach volleyball program has completed a two-person recruiting class that will begin play in the 2019-20 school year.
 
Entering its eighth season of existence, the FGCU beach volleyball program won a program-record 15 matches for the second consecutive season in 2018. The Eagles finished second in the regular season, which was the highest in program history, and checked in third at the ASUN Championship.

Maddison Parmelly
5-10
Rockwall Heath High School  - Rockwall, Texas
 
Parmelly plays with her indoor team as a six-rotation pin player. In the sand, she finished ninth at the AAU Junior Olympic Qualifier/FSU Showcase as well as third in both the TCU Showcase and AVPFirst Points Qualifier. She was also listed on the 2017 AVCA Phenom List for her prep career play.

"Maddie is a highly decorated indoor player who fell in love with the beach game over the past couple of years and has decided to focus all of her attention on that area as she transitions to FGCU," Botsford said. "She has the perfect skill set to make that jump, and we are really looking forward to seeing what she can do with a focus on the sand. Maddie has excellent ball control, is a tremendous defender and has the court vision necessary to be a very good side out player."

Parmelly finished second in her district with 307 kills as a sophomore and followed that up with district MVP recognition as a junior.

"I chose FGCU because of the environment," Parmelly said. "I love the campus and how the beach volleyball team treated each other like family. I always dreamed of my college experience feeling like a home and like I was with my second family. I felt that FGCU would give me that."
 
Parmelly is projected to be a three-time academic all-district selection. She is coached by Margarett Younger at Rockwall Heath High School. Parmelly plays club for Beach10k under the tutelage of Daniel Lindsey.
 
Elizabeth Richmond
5-9
Blyth Academy - Oakville, Ontario
 
Richmond, who scored the match-winning point in two consecutive seasons to win the Canadian national championship, is a three-time Ontario Provincial champion in beach volleyball, and she captured a bronze medal at the U18 Premier Nationals.

"Elizabeth has been competing at a high level in Canada for a long time, so she is very familiar with what it will take to succeed within the collegiate game," Botsford said. "Her experiences playing with and against some of the top talent in her province will be a huge asset when she arrives. Elizabeth is dynamic out of the sand as an attacker, while possessing the ball control skills necessary to complement that side of her game. Bringing in a well-rounded player like her is always a great addition."

Richmond took home a silver medal at the 2016 U-16 Ontario Summer Games. She placed fifth in the Gold Division of the 18U GetNoticed Showcase Tournament in Huntington Beach, Calif. in October 2016. Furthermore, she finished second at the U-15 Premier Provincials in 2016.

"I felt FGCU best provides me with the opportunity to combine a top quality education with being part of an amazing beach program," Richmond said of her decision.
 
FOLLOW ALONG
For up-to-the minute information and a behind-the-scenes look at the FGCU volleyball program, follow on Twitter at @FGCU_BeachVB, on Facebook at /FGCUVolleyball and on Instagram at @FGCU_VB.

COACH BOTSFORD 
Head coach Matt Botsford, who is also the head coach of the FGCU indoor volleyball program, will enter his sixth season at the helm of the FGCU beach volleyball program in 2019. Despite a 46-58 record in his tenure, he's improved or steadied the team's win total each season. In fact, he led the program to 11 wins in 2016, 15 in 2017 and 15 more in 2018 - all three of which either tied or set new records for most wins in a season. The beach volleyball program will enter just its eighth season in 2019 and has an overall record of 57-73. 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.