Matchup: #1 FGCU (24-6 ASUN) vs #4 Liberty (15-16)
What: ASUN Tournament Semifinal
When: Friday Nov. 16 | 5 PM ET | Kennesaw, Ga.
Links: Video (ESPN+) | Live stats | Tournament Bracket
Coaches: Matt Botsford - 5th season at FGCU – 113-44 (.720); same overall | Trevor Johnson (1st season at Liberty – 15-16 (.484); same overall)

KENNESAW, Ga. - The top-seeded FGCU volleyball team (24-6) will open the 2018 ASUN tournament with a 5 p.m. semifinal matchup against No. 4 Liberty (15-16) on Friday at the KSU Convocation Center.

It will be the first-ever postseason matchup between the two teams after Liberty, who swept No. 5 Stetson in Thursday's quarterfinal round to advance. Although it took nine sets combined, the Eagles are 2-0 against the Flames, who joined the conference this year.

INSIDE LOOK AT THE ASUN TOURNAMENT

Schedule
Semifinal No. 1 - No. 1 FGCU vs No. 4 Liberty | Friday at 5 p.m.
Semifinal No. 2 - No. 2 Kennesaw State vs No. 3 Lipscomb | Friday at 7:30 p.m.
Championship - FGCU/Liberty vs Kennesaw State/Lipscomb | Saturday at 5 p.m.

Follow Along
All of the tournament's matches will be streamed on ESPN+, which requires a $4.99 per month subscription. Each match will have live stats, too.

Stream (ESPN+)
FGCU vs Liberty | Kennesaw State vs Lipscomb | Championship

Live stats (StatBroadcast)
FGCU vs Liberty | Kennesaw State vs Lipscomb | Championship

While this is Liberty's first appearance in the ASUN tournament, FGCU is the two-time tournament runner-up. This will be just the second time the Eagles have entered as the No. 1 seed (2012). They've advanced to the championship match three times and the semifinals five times over eight appearances.

ASUN Tournament Finish Year-By-Year
2017 (as No. 3 seed) - lost to No. 1 Kennesaw State 3-0 in the championship match
2016 (as No. 3 seed) - lost to No. 1 Lipscomb 3-1 in the championship match
2015 (as No. 2 seed) - lost to No. 3 Kennesaw State 3-1 in the semifinals
2014 (as No. 2 seed) - lost to No. 3 Jacksonville 3-1 in the semifinals
2013 (as No. 4 seed) - lost to No. 1 Jacksonville 3-1 in the semifinals
2012 (as No. 1 seed) - lost to No. 4 North Florida 3-2 in the semifinals
2011 (as No. 3 seed) - lost to No. 2 Lipscomb 3-0 in the semifinals
2010 - did not qualify
2009 (as No. 3 seed) - lost to No. 1 Lipscomb 3-0 in the championship match
2008 - did not qualify
2007 - did not qualify

ASUN Tournament Year-By-Year record
2017 - 2-1
2016 - 2-1
2015 - 0-1
2014 - 0-1
2013 - 1-1
2012 - 0-1
2011 - 1-1
2009 - 2-1
Total: 8-8

ASUN Tournament History vs Opponents
Campbell - 1-0
Jacksonville - 3-2
Kennesaw State - 1-2
Lipscomb - 0-3
North Florida - 1-1
Stetson - 1-0
USC Upstate - 1-0

What's On The Line
The winner of the ASUN tournament receives the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament, and FGCU is looking for its first-ever bid.

Winning Streak
FGCU will carry a 13-match winning streak into the tournament, which is the fourth-longest in the program's Division-I era.

FGCU Ascends To No. 24 In VolleyballMag.com Poll
The Eagles entered the VolleyballMag.com poll for the first time this year on Nov. 6 at the No. 25 spot. They ascended to No. 24 on the 13th after capturing the ASUN title outright.

Serrano, Axner Cap Record-Year for ASUN Weekly Awards
Daniele Serrano (player of the week) and Dana Axner (freshman of the week) took home two of the season's final three weekly awards from the ASUN. In doing so, they capped a year in which the program won a record 15 awards, led by an ASUN record-breaking six freshman of the week selections from Axner.

Player of the Week - Cortney VanLiew (Aug. 27, Nov. 5), Daniele Serrano (Nov. 12)
Defensive Player of the Week - Daniele Serrano (Sept. 4, Oct. 15, Nov. 5), Dana Axner (Sept. 10)
Freshman of the Week - Dana Axner (Aug. 27, Sept. 4, Oct. 8, Oct. 15, Nov. 5, Nov. 12), Chelsey Lockey (Sept. 24), Tori Morris (Oct. 22)

For more info, visit here.

FGCU Dominates ASUN Postseason Awards
After earning a record four of the seven spots on the ASUN's preseason all-conference team and winning the ASUN's regular season championship for the first time since 2012, FGCU dominated the postseason awards, which were announced on Wednesday:

Cortney VanLiew - Player of the Year (unanimous), All-Academic Team, First Team
Maggie Rick - Scholar-Athlete of the Year, Second Team
Dana Axner - Defensive Player of the Year, Freshman of the Year, All-Freshman Team, First Team
Sharonda Pickering - First Team
Daniele Serrano - Second Team
Chelsey Lockey - All-Freshmen Team
Tori Morris - All-Freshmen Team

For more info on the all-conference awards, visit here.

VanLiew Named CoSIDA Academic All-District
On Thursday, VanLiew was named Google Cloud First Team Academic All-District by CoSIDA. She is one of just eight student-athletes spanning across all NCAA Division-I schools from the states of Florida, Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina, along with Puerto Rico, to earn first-team status. For more info, visit here.

FGCU Announces Highly Talented Five-Member Recruiting Class
Head coach Matt Botsford announced the signings of Shelby Beisner, a 5-9 outside hitter from Charlotte High School in Port Charlotte, Fla., Aja Jones, a 6-1 MB/OH from Venice High School in Venice, Fla., Kortney Reynolds, a 6-1 outside hitter from Jonathan Alder High School in Plain City, Ohio, Emma Szypszak, a 6-1 outside hitter from Homestead High School in Mequon, Wis., and Erin Shomaker, a 6-2 outside hitter from Granville High School in Granville, Ohio on Wednesday. For more info on the class, visit here.
 
ASUN TOP 10 LEADERS (INDIVIDUAL)
Kills – Cortney VanLiew (1st, 416)
Kills/Set – Cortney VanLiew (2nd, 4.00)
Hitting Percentage – Sharonda Pickering (1st, .439), Daniele Serrano (4th, .354)
Assists – Maggie Rick (5th, 766)
Assists/Set – Maggie Rick (6th, 7.37), Chelsey Lockey (10th, 4.34)
Aces – Karissa Rhoades (T-8th, 28)
Digs – Dana Axner (1st, 536)
Digs/Set – Dana Axner (1st, 5.15)
Solo Blocks – Daniele Serrano (T-7th, 17)
Block Assists – Daniele Serrano (1st, 125), Sharonda Pickering (2nd, 103)
Total Blocks – Daniele Serrano (1st, 142), Sharonda Pickering (3rd, 114)
Blocks/Set – Daniele Serrano (1st, 1.43), Tori Morris (4th, 1.15), Sharonda Pickering (5th, 1.14)
Points – Cortney VanLiew (2nd, 458.5)
Points/Set – Cortney VanLiew (2nd, 4.4)

ASUN TOP 10 LEADERS (TEAM)
Kills – 4th, 1,440
Kills/Set – 1st, 13.985
Hitting Percentage – 1st, .273
Assists – 4th, 1,352
Assists/Set – 1st, 13.00
Aces – 124, 6th
Aces/Set – 5th, 1.19
Digs – 2nd, 1,692
Digs/Set – 2nd, 16.27
Solo Blocks – T-4th, 55
Block Assists – 1st, 480
Total Blocks – 1st, 295
Blocks/Set – 1st, 2.84
Points – 3rd, 1,859.0
Points/Set – 1st, 17.9

NATIONAL LEADERS (TEAM)
Opponent Hitting Percentage – 4th, .137
Blocks/Set – 9th, 2.84
Total Blocks – 6th, 295.0
Total Kills - 51st, 1,440
Total Assists - 49th, 1,352
Hitting Percentage – 15th, .273
Assists/Set – 31st, 13.00
Kills/Set – 32nd, 13.85
Digs/Set – 73rd, 16.27

NATIONAL LEADERS (INDIVIDUAL)
Kills – Cortney VanLiew (38th, 416)
Kills/Set – Cortney VanLiew (51st, 4.00)
Digs – Dana Axner (37th, 536)
Digs/Set – Dana Axner (32nd, 5.15)
Blocks – Daniele Serrano (12th, 142), Sharonda Pickering (80th, 114)
Blocks/Set – Daniele Serrano (17th, 1.43), Sharonda Pickering (95th, 1.14)
Points – Cortney VanLiew (49th, 458.5)
Points/Set – Cortney VanLiew (58th, 4.41)
Hitting Percentage – Sharonda Pickering (1st, .439), Daniele Serrano (62nd, .354)
 
FGCU CAREER RECORD BOOK (2004-Present)

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. 724 - Cortney VANLIEW (.234) - 2017-present
9. 700 - Heather VAN OLST (.212) - 2004-06
10. 693 - Eleonora KAZARIAN (.225) - 2014-15
 
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. 3.45 - Cortney VANLIEW (210 sets) - 2017-present
5. 3.39 - Brooke YOUNGQUIST (346 sets) - 2004-07
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. .413 - Sharonda PICKERING (234-43-462) - 2017-present
2. .403 - Cara ZIEGLER (312-56-636) - 2006-07
3. .363 - Ericka FONSECA (837-184-1,801) - 2005-06
4. .354 - Daniele SERRANO (593-126-1,319) - 2016-present
5. .331 - Olivia MESNER (1,132-353-2,356) - 2011-14
 
Assists
1. 4,451 - Maggie RICK (451 sets) - 2015-present
2. 4,408 - Gigi MEYER (474 sets) - 2011-14
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. 413 - Chelsey LOCKEY (95 sets) – 2018-present
10. 309 - Whitney MASTERS (483 sets) - 2011-14
 
Assists per set (min. 50 sets)
1. 10.06 - Chandra LEFEVER (309 sets) - 2006-07,09
2. 9.87 - Maggie RICK (451 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. 4.35 - Chelsey LOCKEY (95 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
    88 - Maggie RICK (451 sets) - 2015-present
10. 84 - Karissa RHOADES (355 sets) - 2015-present

Serve pct. (min. 50 serves)
1. .978 - Snowy BURNAM (324 serves) - 2017-present
2. .976 - Marina ADAMI (83 serves) - 2015-16
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. .958 - Dana AXNER (408 serves) – 2018-present
8. .957 - Gigi MEYER (1797 serves) - 2011-14
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. 871 - Karissa RHOADES (363 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. 50 - Daniele SERRANO (324 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. 293 - Daniele SERRANO (320 sets) - 2016-present
2. 280 - Olivia MESNER (428 sets) - 2011-14
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. 337 - Daniele SERRANO (324 sets) - 2016-present
2. 342 - Olivia MESNER (428 sets) - 2011-14
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. 127 - Maggie RICK - 2015-present
2. 126 - Gigi MEYER - 2011-14
    126 - Courtney STEPHENS - 2014-17
    126 - Whitney MASTERS - 2011-14
5. 119 - Caroline JORDAN - 2013-16
    119 - Karissa RHOADES - 2015-present
7.116 - Whitney HENDRY - 2004-07
8. 114 - Olivia MESNER - 2011-14
9. 113 - Holly YOUNGQUIST - 2008-11   
10. 108 - Brooke YOUNGQUIST - 2004-07

ASUN CAREER RECORD BOOK

Hitting Percentage (min.  .333)
1. Sharonda Pickering (FGCU, 2017-present) - .413
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) - .354
 
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. Maggie Rick (FGCU, 2015-present) – 4,451
6. Sara Metroka (Kennesaw State, 2010-13) – 4,427
7. Gigi Meyer (FGCU, 2011-14) – 4,408
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
 
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 113-44 (.720) record overall, including a 57-15 (.792) record in ASUN play. Including this season, 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 four straight seasons and at least 10 wins in conference play five 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.

FOOD DRIVE
FGCU is collecting food donations at home events all during November to benefit FGCU Campus and Harry Chapin Food Banks. Donations can be dropped off at the marketing table in the Alico Arena lobby.

TOY DRIVE
The FGCU athletic and police departments, Lee County Sheriff's Office and Heroes Unlimited have teamed up to participate in a holiday toy drive. New, unwrapped toys are being collected and will be delivered to the Golisano Children's Hospital of Southwest Florida this holiday season. Collection boxes have been placed in the lobbies of Alico Arena, UPD and the FGCU Family Resource Center until Wednesday, Dec. 14. No toy is too small, and all toys will be wrapped prior to delivery.