FORT MYERS, Fla. -
Cortney VanLiew, one day after capturing the ASUN's player of the year award unanimously, has been named Google Cloud First Team Academic All-District 4 by CoSIDA.
VanLiew (Seymour, Ind./Columbus East HS) 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.
"These types of awards and honors celebrate the true goal of the student-athlete, which is to excel in the classroom and on the court," FGCU head coach
Matt Botsford said. "Cortney's performance in both of those arenas has been amazing, and she is such a deserving recipient of this honor. She is a serious student who cares deeply about her education and works extremely hard to challenge herself in that regard. I'm very proud of her efforts and thankful that she has been recognized."
On Wednesday, VanLiew was also named First Team All-ASUN and Academic All-ASUN in addition to her unanimous player of the year award. The sophomore led the conference in kills (416) and finished second in kills per set (4.00), while ranking 13th in digs (274) and 16th in digs per set (2.63).
Academically, VanLiew has earned either President's List or Dean's List recognition each semester and been a member of the Honors College throughout her time at FGCU. She has volunteered time with the Boys and Girls Club of Lee County, Hurricane Irma cleanup, Night at the Nest, Read Across America and Tied Together.
CoSIDA Academic All-District Selections (Division-I Era)
Cortney VanLiew - 2018, First Team
Amanda Carroll - 2017, First Team
Gigi Meyer - 2012, First Team
Brooke Youngquist - 2010, Second Team
NOTES
FGCU captured the program's fourth ASUN regular season championship this year and will open the ASUN tournament in Kennesaw, Ga. on Friday as the No. 1 seed, where they will open with a semifinal match at 5 p.m. against the winner of No. 4 Liberty and No. 5 Stetson. The winner of that advances to Saturday's championship at 7 p.m. The Green and Blue are the two-time defending runners-up and are looking for the program's first-ever NCAA Tournament berth.
FGCU has won 20 or more matches in four consecutive seasons and tallied 10 or more conference victories in five straight. They are currently riding a 13-match winning streak, which is tied for the fourth-longest in the program's Division-I era.
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.
