2018 Volleyknights Invitational
 
Matchup: FGCU (5-4) vs Yale (5-1)
When: Sept. 14 | 1 PM | The Venue at UCF
Links: Live Stats | Tickets
Coaches: Matt Botsford (5th season at FGCU – 94-42 (.691); same overall | Erin Appleman (16th season at Yale – 275-105 (.724); same overall
 
Matchup: FGCU vs UCF (6-3)
When: Sept. 14 | 8 PM | The Venue at UCF
Links: Live Stats | UCF Knights TV | Tickets
Coach: Todd Dagenais (11th season at Central Florida– 191-139 (.579); same overall

Matchup: FGCU vs Alabama State (3-9)
When: Sept. 15 | 3 PM | The Venue at UCF
Links: Live Stats | Tickets
Coach: Penny Lucas-White (8th season at Alabama State – 145-128 (.531); 27th overall - 389-533 (.422)
 
OTHER MATCHUPS
UCF vs Alabama State - Friday | 11 AM | Live Stats |  UCF Knights TV
Alabama State vs Yale - Friday | 6 PM | Live Stats | 
UCF vs Yale - Saturday | 1 PM | Live Stats  | UCF Knights TV

Orlando, Fla. – The FGCU volleyball team (5-4) will battle Yale (5-1), UCF (6-3) and Alabama State (3-9) this weekend in the Volleyknights Invitational at The Venue on the campus of UCF.
 
The Friday matchup against UCF will be a rematch from this season's second match, where FGCU dropped a four-set match on the campus of the University of Miami. The Eagles are 1-4 all-time against UCF.

Meanwhile, FGCU and Alabama State have met just once, with the Green and Blue picking up a three-set victory on Sept. 19, 2014. The meeting with Yale is the first ever between the two programs.

AXNER ON A TEAR
Dana Axner was named the ASUN's defensive player of the week on Monday, which came on the heels of back-to-back freshman of the week selections.

The libero recorded a Division-I era program-record 39 digs and a season-high seven assists in a five-set match against West Virginia this past Saturday. She had at least 15 digs and six assists in each of the team's three outings over the weekend, which also included Albany and Western Illinois.

Axner (Dublin, Ohio/Dublin Coffman HS) has 156 digs, or 4.73 per set, along with 38 assists and five aces through nine matches this year. She has been named to the All-Lobo Classic and All-Homewood Suites Fort Myers/FGCU Classic teams.

Here's how FGCU has fared so far this year in weekly conference awards:

Aug. 27 – Player – Cortney VanLiew (FGCU)/Carlyle Nusbaum (Lipscomb), Defensive – Chelcie Spence (Stetson), Freshman – Dana Axner (FGCU)
Sept. 4 – Player – Lauren Chastang (Kennesaw State), Defensive – Daniele Serrano (FGCU), Freshman – Dana Axner (FGCU)
Sept. 10 – Player – Hao Jin (Stetson), Defensive – Dana Axner (FGCU), Freshman – Solimar Cestero (North Florida)

APPROACHING 4,000
Senior setter Maggie Rick is just 68 assists away from becoming the second player in program history with 4,000. This past weekend, she tallied 40 + assists in two of three matches, and she grabbed her third double-double of the season (46 assists, 14 digs) against West Virginia.

Rick (Alpharetta, Ga./Blessed Trinity Catholic HS) remains on pace to break Gigi Meyer's (4,408, 2011-14) career record. She has at least 20 assists in 103 of 106 career matches. Furthermore, she has at least 30 on 49 occasions, 40-49 25 times and 50-59 eight times. Defensively, she needs just 55 more digs to become only the third player in program history with at least 1,000 assists and 700 digs in a career, joining Gigi Meyer (4,408 assists/947 digs) and Chandra Lefever (3,108 assists/765 digs).

SERRANO ON PACE TO LEAD IN BLOCKS
Junior middle blocker Daniele Serrano continues to shine at the net. She has 245 career blocks, which is just three shy of passing Ericka Fonseca (247, 2005-06) for third most in program history. She is also tied for fourth all-time in solo blocks (39) with Devon Watts (2004-05) and third in block assists with 206.

LUCKY 777s
Senior Karissa Rhoades (Valrico, Fla./Bloomingdale Senior HS) produced a season-high 16 digs in the team's most recent outing against West Virginia on Saturday. In doing so, she eclipsed Chandra Lefever (765, 2006-07, 09) for the ninth most career digs in program history and enters this weekend with 777. Her 2.64 career digs per set ranks 12th all-time.

VANLIEW'S BIG EFFORT
Cortney VanLiew continues to shine in her sophomore year. She has double-digit digs in all but one match, and she recorded a career-high 29 against West Virginia on Saturday. In fact, that total was the third most in a match in program history behind Ana Kokanovic (37, Nov. 1, 2008 vs Mercer) and Amanda Carroll (30, Nov. 11, 2016 at USC Upstate).

In all, VanLiew (Seymour, Ind./Columbus East HS) added 10 digs, three assists, one ace and one block against West Virginia in what was her third consecutive double-double and the ninth of her career.

COACHING MILESTONE
Head coach Matt Botsford is in his fifth season and needs just six more victories to reach 100 in his career. He has compiled a 94-42 record and his teams have registered at least 20 wins overall in three straight seasons and at least 10 wins in ASUN play in four straight seasons – both of which are record streaks in FGCU's Division-I era (2007-present).

This year's team is Botsford's most experienced squad as the roster features five seniors and 22 seasons of prior collegiate experience. It comes one year after taking his least experienced team, with 17 seasons of experience, to an ASUN runner-up finish for the second straight season.

ASUN LEADERS
Kills – Cortney VanLiew (T-3rd, 136)
Kills/Set – Cortney VanLiew (2nd, 4.12), Amanda Carroll (8th, 2.93)
Hitting Percentage – Sharonda Pickering (1st, .394), Daniele Serrano (8th, .308)
Assists – Maggie Rick (6th, 247), Chelsey Lockey (T-12th, 109)
Assists/Set – Maggie Rick (6th, 7.48), Chelsey Lockey (13th, 3.76)
Digs – Dana Axner (4th, 156)
Digs/Set – Dana Axner (2nd, 4.73)
Solo Blocks – Daniele Serrano (T-4th, 6)
Block Assists – Daniele Serrano (T-3rd, 38)
Total Blocks – Daniele Serrano (2nd, 44), Sharonda Pickering (T-13th, 26)
Points – Cortney VanLiew (4th, 142.0)

SCOUTING UCF
Erin Olson and Amber Olson have guided the Knights to a .250 attack percentage, which ranks third in the American Athletic Conference this season. The setting sisters have averaged a combined 11.94 assists per set. Defensively, the duo averages 4.2 digs per set between the pair. 

This will be the second consecutive weekend at home for UCF after hosting the UCF Challenge against FIU, UIC and Wofford. The Black and Gold took all three matches, dropping just one set, to win the tournament title. McKenna Melville was named tournament MVP with 3.7 kills and 3.8 digs per set. Kristina Fisher and Anne-Marie Watson joined the rookie on the all-tournament squad with 3.6 kills and 1.6 blocks per set, respectively.

A big part of the Knights' success in the UCF Challenge was the block. Over the course of three matches, the Knights turned away 35 attacks, which matched their production from the opening six contests of the year. Kathryn Wesolich posted nine block assists in the tournament opener. Nerissa Moravec followed that up with 10 blocks, two solos, in the nightcap.

Friday night's matchup will be the second meeting between FGCU and UCF. The Knights defeated the Eagles in four sets in the Sunshine State Challenge on Aug. 24. Since then, UCF has knocked off No. 7 USC and taken No. 4 Florida to four sets in the Bubly Invitational in Gainesville.
 
SCOUTING YALE
In 2017, Yale won its eighth Ivy League title in the past 14 seasons, and this year has started with the same success as the Bulldogs are off to a 5-1 start.

Yale won two of three matches last weekend at the Art Carmichael Invitational hosted by the University of Rhode Island. The Bulldogs defeated Army-West-Point and Rhode Island, and dropped a match to New Hampshire. Kathryn Attar, the reigning Ivy League Rookie of the Year, was named tournament MVP. In addition, Tristin Kott earned all-tournament recognition. 
 
Entering this season, Yale returned five All-Ivy League selections, including the league's defensive player of the year (Kate Swanson) and rookie of the year (Attar).  Swanson and Attar both were also awarded spots on the first team.  In addition, Frances Arnautou and Kott earned second-team honors, while Kelley Wirth was honorable mention. 

The Bulldogs' roster features four student-athletes who hail from Florida - Attar (Tampa), Kott (Winter Park), Gray Malias (Orlando) and Lauren Potter (Miami). 
 
SCOUTING ALABAMA STATE
Alabama State (3-9) has been paced all season by its upperclassmen. Senior Kori Kutsch leads the SWAC with 368 assists and senior Candace Martin ranks second among league competitors with 0.89 blocks per set. A pair of juniors, Bayle Bennett (101 kills) and Krysta Medearis (102 kills), are top offensive threats for the Hornets and senior Kayla Torres' 128 digs (second in the SWAC) tops the defense.

FGCU CAREER RECORD BOOK
 
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. 700 - Heather VAN OLST (.212) - 2004-06
9. 693 - Eleonora KAZARIAN (.225) - 2014-15
10. 678 - Ana KOKANOVIC (.281) - 2007-08
 
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. 3.39 - Brooke YOUNGQUIST (346 sets) - 2004-07
5. 3.25 - Eleonora KAZARIAN (213 sets) - 2014-15
6. 3.19 - Cortney VANLIEW (139 sets) - 2017-present
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. .403 - Cara ZIEGLER (312-56-636) - 2006-07
2. .363 - Ericka FONSECA (837-184-1801) - 2005-06
3. .348 - Sharonda PICKERING (84-21-181) - 2017-present
4. .347 - Daniele SERRANO (451-98-1016) - 2016-present
5. .331 - Olivia MESNER (1132-353-2356) - 2011-14
 
Assists
1. 4,408 - Gigi MEYER (474 sets) - 2011-14
2. 3,932 - Maggie RICK (380 sets) - 2015-present
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
 
Assists per set (min. 50 sets)
1. 10.35 - Maggie RICK (380 sets) - 2015-present
2. 10.06 - Chandra LEFEVER (309 sets) - 2006-07,09
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
 
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
9. 78 - Whitney MASTERS (483 sets) - 2011-14
10. 77 - Maggie RICK (380 sets) - 2015-present
 
Serve pct. (min. 50 serves)
1. .985 - Snowy BURNAM (133 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
 
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. 777 - Karissa RHOADES (294 sets) - 2015-present
10. 765 - Chandra LEFEVER (309 sets) - 2006-07,09
 
Block solos
1. 62 - Olivia MESNER (428 sets) - 2011-14
2. 51 - Ericka FONSECA (216 sets) - 2005-06
3. 45 - Ashley YANCE (313 sets) - 2005-09
4. 39 - Devon WATTS (212 sets) - 2004-05
    39 - Daniele SERRANO (258 sets) - 2016-present
6. 38 - Amanda CARROLL (348 sets) - 2015-present
38 - Kaitlin HOLM (359 sets) - 2011-13
 
Block assists
1. 280 - Olivia MESNER (428 sets) - 2011-14
2. 242 - Ashley YANCE (313 sets) - 2005-09
3. 206 - Daniele SERRANO (258 sets) - 2016-present
4. 196 - Ericka FONSECA (216 sets) - 2005-06
5. 180 - Marlene MOELLER (301 sets) - 2013-16
 
Total blocks
1. 342 - Olivia MESNER (428 sets) - 2011-14
2. 287 - Ashley YANCE (313 sets) - 2005-09
3. 247 - Ericka FONSECA (216 sets) - 2005-06
4. 245 - Daniele SERRANO (258 sets) - 2016-present
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. 126 - Gigi MEYER - 2011-14
    126 - Courtney STEPHENS - 2014-17
    126 - Whitney MASTERS - 2011-14
4. 119 - Caroline JORDAN - 2013-16
5. 116 - Whitney HENDRY - 2004-07
6. 114 - Olivia MESNER - 2011-14
7. 113 - Holly YOUNGQUIST - 2008-11
8. 108 - Brooke YOUNGQUIST - 2004-07
9. 106 - Maggie RICK - 2015-present
10. 99 - Jessica BARNES - 2010-11,13-14
      99 - Amanda CARROLL - 2015-present
12. 98 - Karissa RHOADES - 2015-present
 
ASUN CAREER RECORD BOOK

Hitting Percentage (min.  .333)
1. Piper Morgan (UCF, 2001) - .381
2. Andrea Shanks (Samford, 2001) - .379
3. Tamara Aldridge (Georgia State, 2001) - .377
4. Anna Popenko (Georgia State, 2001) - .371
4. Amanda Chapman (Mercer, 2001) - .371
6. Daniele Serrano (FGCU, 2016-present) - .347
 
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. Sara Metroka (Kennesaw State, 2010-13) – 4,427
6. Gigi Meyer (FGCU, 2011-14) – 4,408
7. Jenny Frank (UCF, 2001-03) – 4,102
8. Kristi Piedimonte (Kennesaw State, 2014-17) – 4,005
9. Maggie Rick (FGCU, 2015-present) – 3,932
10. Kayla Weller (Stetson, 2012-15) – 3,789

ASUN Roundup

1. Stetson – 6-3 (0-0)

Next Three Matches: vs. Brown (9/14; 6 PM); vs. Chicago State (9/15; 11 AM); vs. Bethune-Cookman (9/15; 6 PM)
Last Three Matches: at Stephen F. Austin (L, 3-1); vs. Grambling (W, 3-1); vs. St. John's (W, 3-2)

2. Kennesaw State – 6-4 (0-0)

Next Three Match: vs. Florida A&M (9/14; 12 PM); at Troy (9/14; 7:30 PM); vs. Jacksonville State (9/15; 2 PM)
Last Three Matches: vs. Auburn (L, 3-2) vs. No. 12 Washington (L, 3-1); vs. Dayton (L, 3-1)

T-3. FGCU – 5-4 (0-0)

Next Three Matches: vs. Yale (9/14; 1 PM); at UCF (9/14; 8 PM); vs. Alabama State (9/15; 3 PM)
Last Three Matches: vs. West Virginia (L, 3-2); vs. Western Illinois (W, 3-0); vs. Albany (L, 3-2)

T-3. Lipscomb – 5-4 (0-0)

Next Three Matches: vs. Northern Iowa (9/14); vs. No. 10 Creighton (9/14; 8 PM); at No. 8 Illinois (9/15; 1 PM)
Last Three Matches: vs. Belmont (W, 3-0); vs. Xavier (W, 3-0); at No. 19 Purdue (L, 3-0)

5. Liberty – 3-7 (0-0)

Next Three Matches: vs. College of Charleston (9/14, 12 PM); vs. High Point (9/15; 10 AM); vs College of Charleston (9/15; 4 PM)
Last Three Matches: vs. Virginia (W, 3-0); at Maryland (L, 3-0); vs. Colgate (L, 3-2);

6. North Florida – 3-8 (0-0)

Next Three Matches: vs. San Jose State (9/14; 10 AM); vs. South Dakota State (9/14; 4:30 PM); at FAU (9/15; 12:30 PM)
Last Three Matches: vs. North Dakota (W; 3-2); vs. Furman (L, 3-1); vs. USC Upstate (W, 3-1)

7. North Alabama – 2-7 (0-0)

Next Three Matches: at Lipscomb* (9/18, 7:30 PM); vs. Kennesaw State* (9/23, 3 PM); vs. Liberty* (9/28, 8 PM)
Last Three Matches: at Memphis (L, 3-0); vs. UL-Monroe (L, 3-0); vs. Tennessee Tech (L, 3-1)

8. Jacksonville – 1-8 (0-0)

Next Three Matches: at No. 11 Florida (9/14; 12 PM); vs. Army West Point (9/14; 5 PM); vs FIU (9/15; 5 PM)
Last Three Matches: vs. North Dakota (L, 3-1); at Mercer (L, 3-1); vs. Alabama A&M (W, 3-0)

9. NJIT – 1-9 (0-0)

Next Three Matches: at Sacred Heart (9/14, 6 PM); vs. Rhode Island (9/15; 12:30 PM); vs. Kent State (9/15, 4 PM)
Last Three Matches: vs. Lehigh (L, 3-0); vs. Bucknell (L, 3-1); vs. Delaware State (W, 3-1)
 
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 94-42 (.691) record overall, including a 42-14 (.750) record in ASUN play. 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 three straight seasons and at least 10 wins in conference play four 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.