FORT MYERS, Fla. – The FGCU Department of Athletics has announced its monthly academic honorees for November. Volleyball sophomore Cortney VanLiew along with baseball junior Marc Coffers were named Scholar-Athletes of the Month.

A female and male Eagle is chosen as the FGCU Athletics Scholar-Athlete of the Month throughout the academic year. Factors in the selection for this honor is based on a combination of significant athletic and overall academic success.

VanLiew (Seymour, Ind./Columbus East HS) is a Marketing major and currently holds a 3.97 GPA. She's made the President's List and Athletic Director's Honor Roll each of the previous fall and spring semesters and was named an ASUN All-Academic Team selection last month.

The Indiana native played an instrumental part in the Eagles' historic season (27-7, 15-1 ASUN) as the squad captured its first ASUN Championship Title, which in turn, led to the program's first NCAA Tournament appearance. In the opening round, the Eagle's took down 13th-seeded and No. 21 – ranked UCF – the program's first-ever win over a ranked team – as the Green and Blue advanced to the second round before falling to No. 16 Florida.

On top of being named the unanimous ASUN Player of the Year, VanLiew earned spots on the ASUN All-Tournament Team and on CoSIDA's Academic All-District First Team. Wednesday, the sophomore outside hitter was named a Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Honorable Mention All-American. With the honor, she became the first player in the program's Division I history to earn such honor.

Statistically, VanLiew racked up 482 kills while hitting .241 and adding 312 digs, which was second on the team, along with 26 assists and 47 blocks (10 solo).

"Cortney's ability to perform at a high level, both on the court and in the classroom, continues to demonstrate what a focused young woman she is," said head volleyball coach Matt Botsford. "She takes great pride in her academics and is committed to excelling as a student here at FGCU."

Coffers (Naples, Fla./Barron Collier HS) boasts a 3.63 GPA as he pursues a Bachelor's in Interdisciplinary Entrepreneurship Studies. The Barron Collier HS product has landed a spot on the Dean's List and Athletic Director's Honor Roll each fall and spring semester since 2016.

The Naples native started all 53 games for the Green and Blue last season, primarily in right field. He ended the season with a .283 batting average as he tallied a team-high three triples, hit 12 doubles, drove in 26 runners while scoring a team-leading 42 runs. Coffers went on to swipe 20 bags (20-23) during the spring, just five short of tying the FGCU single-season record.

This past summer up in Virginia's Valley League, Coffers hit .250 with three doubles, three home runs, and 16 RBI to help the New Market Rebels to a title.

"Marc has been a great leader for us on and off the field," said head coach Dave Tollett. "He is very instrumental in the winter games that we have at FGCU for children with special needs as a group leader. Marc is also actively involved with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes organization and does several community service projects in his hometown of Naples as he's our team community service project leader. We're extremely proud of Marc for his endeavors on and off the field and what he does for the Southwest Florida and FGCU communities."

2018-19 Scholar-Athletes of the Month
August – Holly Fritz (Soccer) Kareem Riley (Soccer)
September – Carley Lutzow (Cross Country) Felipe Escobar (Tennis)
October – Maggie Rick (Volleyball) Kohl Gilmore (Baseball)
November – Cortney VanLiew (Volleyball) and Marc Coffers (Baseball)

ABOUT FGCU
FGCU teams have combined to win an incredible 73 conference regular season and tournament titles in just 11+ seasons at the Division-I level. Additionally, in just seven+ seasons of D-I postseason eligibility, the Eagles have had a combined 34 teams or individuals compete in NCAA championships. Seven FGCU programs have earned a top-25 national ranking in their respective sport – including both men's and women's soccer again in 2018. In 2016-17, the Green and Blue posted a department-best 6th-place finish in the DI-AAA Learfield Directors' Cup and top-100 showing nationally, ahead of several Power-5 and FBS institutions. FGCU also collectively earned a record 3.35 GPA in the classroom in the Spring of 2018 and had an ASUN Conference and State of Florida best five teams earn the NCAA's Public Recognition Award for their Academic Progress Rate in their sport.  The Eagles also served an all-time high 7,200 volunteer hours – being recognized as one of two runner-ups for the inaugural NACDA Community Service Award presented by the Fiesta Bowl.

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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 raise awareness.