Matchup: FGCU (9-5, 2-0 ASUN) vs NJIT (2-14, 0-2 ASUN)
When: Sept. 28 | 6 PM | Wellness and Events Center
Links: Live Stats | Video (no audio)
Coaches: Matt Botsford (5th season at FGCU – 98-43 (.695); same overall | Peter Volkert (5th season at NJIT – 44-102 (.301); 25th season overall – 392-388 (.503)
 
Matchup: FGCU vs North Alabama (2-9, 0-2 ASUN)
When: Sept. 30 | 2 PM ET | Flowers Hall
Links: Live Stats | Video
Coach: Bob White (1st season at North Alabama – 2-9; 16th overall – 464-101)

NEWARK, N.J. – FGCU head volleyball coach Matt Botsford will look to reach the century mark in career wins when his team battles NJIT (Friday, 6 p.m.) and North Alabama (Sunday, 2 p.m. ET) this weekend. He enters with a 98-43 (.695) record.

The Green and Blue will also look to start ASUN play 4-0 for the seventh time in program history, but for the first time since the 2014 team started 5-0. The 2012 team opened conference play with a program-record 14 straight wins.

Best starts to ASUN play (2007-present)
2014 – 5-0
2012 – 14-0
2011 – 4-0
2009 – 5-0
2008 – 6-0
2007 – 4-0
 
The Eagles have never even lost a set (18-0) in six all-time matches against NJIT, while Sunday's matchup will be the first time FGCU and North Alabama have met. The Highlanders (.106) and Lions (.113) have the two lowest hitting percentages in the conference, while the Green and Blue currently pace the ASUN at .251, which is .011 ahead of second-place Kennesaw State.

A big reason for the team's offensive efficiency is the play of Sharonda Pickering (.444) and Daniele Serrano (.335), who are ranked first and third, respectively, in the ASUN in hitting percentage. In fact, Pickering (Sea Cow's Bay, Tortola, British Virgin Islands/Elmore Stoutt HS) checks in at second nationally, while Serrano (Sanford, Fla./Seminole HS) also leads the conference in blocks per set (1.21).

FGCU is also the only team in the ASUN with two players ranked in the top 10 in total assists – Maggie Rick (343) and Chelsey Lockey (179). Rick (Alpharetta, Ga./Blessed Trinity Catholic HS) eclipsed 4,000 career assists and moved into eighth place on the ASUN career list last weekend, while Lockey (Eaton, Colo./Eaton HS) is the conference's reigning freshman of the week.

FGCU Weekly ASUN Awards
Aug. 27: Player of the Week - Cortney VanLiew; Freshman of the Week – Dana Axner
Sept. 4: Defensive Player of the Week – Daniele Serrano; Freshman of the Week – Dana Axner
Sept. 10: Defensive Player of the Week – Dana Axner
Sept. 24 – Player – Freshman of the Week - Chelsey Lockey

Cortney VanLiew (Seymour, Ind./Columbus East HS), who had 20 kills in last weekend's straight-set win over North Florida, eclipsed 500 for her career and now sits at 505, which is the 10th most in the program's Division-I era.

SCOUTING NJIT
The Highlanders are led by senior libero Adriana Nieto, who leads the ASUN in total digs (288) and digs per set (5.33). She was one of three non-FGCU players on this year's preseason all-conference team.

NJIT's lone wins came against Delaware State on Sept. 1 and its most recent outing against Fairleigh Dickinson on Sept. 25 – both in four sets.
 
SCOUTING NORTH ALABAMA
The Lions, who compiled an 82-22 record overall and a 47-9 mark in Gulf South Conference play over the past three years to close out their Division-II era, have struggled in the transition to Division-I. The team's lone wins came against Tennessee State (Aug. 31) and UNC Asheville (Sept. 1) in the Chattanooga Classic.

North Alabama has opened ASUN play with a pair of straight-set losses to Lipscomb and Kennesaw State, and they've dropped 14 straight sets overall dating back to a second set victory over Tennessee Tech on Sept. 7.

As a team, the Lions rank last in the ASUN in total blocks (61), while FGCU has exactly twice as many (122). In addition, North Alabama averages a conference-worst 11.9 points per set, while the Eagles check in at a conference-best 17.2 points per set.

ASUN INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
Kills – Cortney VanLiew (5th, 197)
Kills/Set – Cortney VanLiew (2nd, 4.02)
Hitting Percentage – Sharonda Pickering (1st, .444), Daniele Serrano (3rd, .335), Cortney VanLiew (10th, .268)
Assists – Maggie Rick (7th, 343), Chelsey Lockey (10th, 179)
Assists/Set – Maggie Rick (7th, 7.00), Chelsey Lockey (12th, 3.98)
Service Aces – Cortney VanLiew (T-11th, 12)
Digs – Dana Axner (4th, 215)
Digs/Set – Dana Axner (3rd, 4.39)
Solo Blocks – Daniele Serrano (T-5th, 9), Kaitlan Krivdo (T-13th, 6), Sharonda Pickering (T-13th, 6), Tori Morris (T-16th, 5)
Block Assists – Daniele Serrano (T-5th, 48), Sharonda Pickering (13th, 36)
Total Blocks – Daniele Serrano (6th, 57), Sharonda Pickering (13th, 42)
Blocks/Set – Daniele Serrano (1st, 1.21), Tori Morris (8th, 0.94), Sharonda Pickering (9th, 0.93)
Points – Cortney VanLiew (5th, 214.5)

FGCU'S ASUN TEAM RANKINGS
Kills – 5th, 660
Kills/Set – 1st, 13.47
Hitting Percentage – 1st, .251
Assists – T-4th, 617
Assists/Set – 2nd, 12.59
Aces – T-6th, 61
Digs – 5th, 755
Digs/Set – 3rd, 15.41
Solo Blocks – 3rd, 30
Block Assists – 4th, 184
Total Blocks – 5th, 122
Blocks/Set – 1st, 2.49
Points/Set – 1st, 17.2

NATIONAL LEADERS
Kills – Cortney VanLiew (T-82nd, 197)
Kills/Set – Cortney VanLiew (50th, 4.02)
Digs – Dana Axner (136th, 215)
Digs/Set – Dana Axner (111th, 4.39)
Blocks – Daniele Serrano (110th, 57)
Blocks/Set – Daniele Serrano (70th, 1.21)
Points – Cortney VanLiew (116th, 214.5)
Hitting Percentage – Sharonda Pickering (2nd, .444)
Total Blocks – Daniele Serrano (110th, 57)
 
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. 3.26 - Cortney VANLIEW (155 sets) - 2017-present
6. 3.25 - Eleonora KAZARIAN (213 sets) - 2014-15
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. .393 - Sharonda PICKERING (120-25-242) - 2017-present
3. .363 - Ericka FONSECA (837-184-1,801) - 2005-06
4. .350 - Daniele SERRANO (478-101-1,076) - 2016-present
5. .331 - Olivia MESNER (1,132-353-2,356) - 2011-14
 
Assists
1. 4,408 - Gigi MEYER (474 sets) - 2011-14
2. 4,028 - Maggie RICK (396 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. 10.17 - Maggie RICK (396 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. 79 - Maggie RICK (396 sets) - 2015-present
10. 78 - Whitney MASTERS (483 sets) - 2011-14

Serve pct. (min. 50 serves)
1. .985 - Snowy BURNAM (137 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
6. .959 - Adrianne MCNALLY (217 serves) - 2010
7. .957 - Gigi MEYER (1797 serves) - 2011-14
8. .954 - Ericka FONSECA (593 serves) - 2005-06
9. .952 - Dana AXNER (189 serves) – 2018-present
10. .950 - Whitney HENDRY (1169 serves) - 2004-07
 
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. 818 - Karissa RHOADES (310 sets) - 2015-present
10. 765 - Chandra LEFEVER (309 sets) - 2006-07,09
 
Solo Blocks
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. 42 - Daniele SERRANO (272 sets) - 2016-present
5. 39 - Devon WATTS (212 sets) - 2004-05
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. 216 - Daniele SERRANO (272 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. 258 - Daniele SERRANO (272 sets) - 2016-present
4. 247 - Ericka FONSECA (216 sets) - 2005-06
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. 111 - Maggie RICK - 2015-present
9. 108 - Brooke YOUNGQUIST - 2004-07
10. 103 - Karissa RHOADES - 2015-present
11. 99 - Jessica BARNES - 2010-11,13-14
      99 - Amanda CARROLL - 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) - .350
 
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. Maggie Rick (FGCU, 2015-present) – 4,028
9. Kristi Piedimonte (Kennesaw State, 2014-17) – 4,005
10. Kayla Weller (Stetson, 2012-15) – 3,789

ASUN STANDINGS
1. Kennesaw State – 11-4 (2-0)
1. FGCU – 9-5 (2-0)
1. Lipscomb – 7-7 (2-0)
1. Liberty – 5-10 (2-0)
5. Stetson – 9-4 (1-0)
6. North Florida – 6-13 (1-2)
7. North Alabama – 2-9 (0-2)
8. NJIT – 2-14 (0-2)
9. Jacksonville – 1-15 (0-4)
 
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 98-43 (.695) record overall, including a 44-14 (.794) 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.