BOCA RATON, Fla. - The FGCU beach volleyball team (3-1) bounced back from a loss to No. 11 Georgia Southern (5-0) to take down No. 15 Florida Atlantic (3-2) and earn the program's first all-time win over a ranked opponent in FAU's Burrow Beach Bash this afternoon.
"This is huge for our program," FGCU head coach
Matt Botsford said. "We've made strides, and it's clear our talent and competition levels have improved, and this win validates that. It's a reward for all of our hard work. It's exciting. Most of all, I'm happy for our two seniors who have played a big role in elevating this program to new heights."
The No. 1 pair of
Amanda Carroll (Albuquerque, N.M./Sandia HS) and
Mackenzie Allen (Naples, Fla./Gulf Coast HS) clinched the win over No. 15 FAU with a 21-19, 21-17 decision over FAU's Carly Scarborough and Brittany Pellitteri. They improved to 2-2 overall this year as the top pairing.
In fact, the Eagles battled from down 2-1 to claim the upset. Just prior to the Carroll-Allen victory,
Katherine Puisis (Mason, Ohio/William Mason HS) and
Karissa Rhoades (Valrico, Fla./Bloomingdale Senior HS) pulled out a 19-21, 21-17, 15-10 win over FAU's Nicole Navarro and Nicole Grant from the No. 3 spot.
Despite losses in the No. 2 and No. 5 pairings, FGCU got its third win from
Snowy Burnam (Palm City, Fla./Jensen Beach HS) and
Kayla Whetstone (Arlington, Texas/Arlington Lamar HS), a freshmen tandem who are now 3-1 from the No. 4 spot this year after a thrilling 15-21, 21-18, 15-13 result. That close victory prevented FAU from taking a 2-0 advantage in the match after FAU claimed a win in the No. 5 spot to open things up.
The victory also snapped a four-match losing streak to FAU dating back to March 25, 2014. The all-time series now sits at 4-4.
Earlier in the day, No. 11 Georgia State (8-3) swept FGCU in a first-ever meeting, although the tandems of
Kaitlan Krivdo (Hope Mills, N.C./Grays Creek HS) and
Alayna Ryan (Fort Myers, Fla./Fort Myers HS) and Puisis-Rhoades,
forced three sets. Also, Carroll-Allen and Burnam-Whetstone each lost two-point sets. In all, eight sets were won or lost by three or fewer points.
Overall, Puisis and Rhoades join Burnam and Whetstone as one of two pairs to start the season 3-1. Carroll and Allen, along with Krivdo and Ryan are 2-2, while
Kellie Pernula (Plant City, Fla./Plant City HS) and
Cortney VanLiew (Seymour, Ind./Columbus East HS) are 1-1.
RESULTS
NO. 11 GEORGIA STATE 5, FGCU 0
1. T. Van Gunst/Creamer d.
Allen/Carroll 21-18, 25-23
2. A. Van Gunst/Weiner d.
Borgiotti/Glickert 21-15, 21-18
3. Stasevich/Johnson d.
Puisis/Rhoades 22-20, 19-21, 17-15
4. Held/Novack d.
Burnam/Whetstone 26-24, 21-17
5. McGinn/Hawes d.
Krivdo/Ryan 21-23, 21-15, 15-10
Extra: Gordon/Bauchert d.
VanLiew/Pernula 20-22, 23-21, 15-11
Order of finish: 4,5,1,2,3
FGCU 3, NO. 15 FLORIDA ATLANTIC 2
1.
Carroll/Allen (FGCU) d. Scarborough/Pellitteri (FAU) 21-19, 21-17
2. Kinlaw/Dischler (FAU) d.
Borgiotti/Glickert (FGCU) 21-13, 21-17
3.
Puisis/Rhoades (FGCU) d. Navarro/Grant (FAU) 19-21, 21-17, 15-10
4.
Burnam/Whetstone (FGCU) d. Silva/Dorish (FAU) 15-21, 21-18, 15-13
5. Brok/Morris (FAU) d.
Krivdo/Ryan (FGCU) 21-13, 21-13
Extra: Lewkowicz/Gott (FAU) d.
Rhoades/Pernula (FGCU) 21-14, 21-11
Order of finish: 5,4,2,3,1
NEXT UP
FGCU will face Eckerd College on Wednesday in St. Petersburg, Fla. before hosting the University of Tampa on Friday at Estero Community Park.
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, is in his fifth season at the helm of the FGCU beach volleyball program in 2018. In his tenure, the team has compiled a 35-47 record, and he's improved the team's win total each season. In fact, he led the program to 11 wins in 2016 and 15 in 2017 - both of which were new records for most wins in a season. The beach volleyball program is entering just its seventh year at FGCU and has an overall record of 44-61. 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.
