FORT MYERS, Fla. - The FGCU beach volleyball team (4-2) rolled past the University of Tampa 4-1 on Friday in the program's first-ever match on campus.
"It was such a great turnout today for the match," FGCU head coach Matt Botsford said. "I'm really thankful that we had the opportunity to do this and hopefully we won over a few new fans in the process. Match wise, I really liked the toughness that Kaitlin and Alayna showed in their match. There are still times they are putting themselves in tough positions, but I thought they battled well through those situations. Snowy and Kayla continue to impress with how cleanly they are playing. Mac and Amanda also responded well after a first set loss. Their defensive pressure changed the way the match was unfolding."
The freshmen duo of Kayla Whetstone (Arlington, Texas/Arlington Lamar HS) and Snowy Burnam (Palm City, Fla./Jensen Beach HS) improved to 5-1 this year with a 21-10, 21-9 win in the No. 4 pairing. It was the team's second sweep among the victories. Meanwhile, the duo of Mackenzie Allen (Naples, Fla./Gulf Coast HS) and Amanda Carroll (Albuquerque, N.M./Sandia HS) provided a come-from-behind 18-21, 21-17, 15-7 result from the No. 1 pairing.
The tandem of Katherine Puisis (Mason, Ohio/William Mason HS) and Karissa Rhoades (Valrico, Fla./Bloomingdale Senior HS), along with Kaitlan Krivdo (Hope Mills, N.C./Grays Creek HS) and Alayna Ryan (Fort Myers, Fla./Fort Myers HS) also picked up wins, with Krivdo and Ryan winning in thrilling 15-13 fashion in the final set.
FGCU will be back in action next Wednesday at 4 p.m. at Florida International University.
FGCU 4, Tampa 1
1. Allen/Carroll (FGCU) d. Elias/Houghton (Tampa) 18-21, 21-17, 15-7
2. Pacatte/Buttner (Tampa) d. Borgiotti/Glickert (FGCU) 22-20, 17-21, 15-11
3. Puisis/Rhoades (FGCU) d. McKiel/Dominguez (Tampa) 21-12, 21-16
4. Whetstone/Burnam (FGCU) d. Misca/Moore (Tampa) 21-10, 21-9
5. Krivdo/Ryan (FGCU) d. Demps/Beisner (Tampa) 25-23, 19-21, 15-13
Exhibition: Pernula/VanLiew (FGCU) d. Blumenthal/Christian (Tampa) 17-21, 21-16, 15-8
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 36-48 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.
