2018 Homewood Suites Fort Myers/FGCU Classic

Matchup: FGCU (4-2) vs Albany (1-5)
When: Sept. 7 | 7 PM | Alico Arena
Links: Live Stats | Facebook Live | Tickets
Coaches: Matt Botsford (5th season at FGCU – 93-40 (.699); same overall) | MJ Engstrom (11th season at Albany – 166-126 (.568); 16th season overall - 223-213 (.511)
Promotions: Green Out (wear green) | Magnet and Poster Night (free at the marketing table) | Dirty Bird Gear (sign up or get your gear) | Poster Signing (post-game with the players)
 
Matchup: FGCU vs Western Illinois (1-5)
When: Sept. 8 | 10:30 AM | Alico Arena
Links: Live Stats | Facebook Live | Tickets
Coach: Ben Staupe (1st season at Western Illinois – 1-5 (.170); same overall)
Promotions: Breakfast of Champions (free Dunkin' Donuts and juice for the first 100 at the marketing table) | Dirty Bird Gear (sign up or get your gear)

Matchup: FGCU vs West Virginia (2-4)
When: Sept. 8 | 7 PM | Alico Arena
Links: Live Stats | ESPN3 (John Vittas – PBP | Thais Baziquetto-Allen – Color)  | Tickets
Coach: Reed Sunahara (4th season at West Virginia – 41-58 (.414); 18th season overall - 366-222 (.622)
Promotions: Sign Contest (prizes to best Eagles fan signs) | White Out (wear white) | Dirty Bird Gear (sign up or get your gear)

OTHER NEUTRAL SITE MATCHUPS
Albany vs Western Illinois - Friday | 11 AM | Live Stats | Facebook Live | Tickets
West Virginia vs Western Illinois - Friday | 3 PM | Live Stats | Facebook Live | Tickets
West Virginia vs Albany - Saturday | 1 PM | Live Stats | Facebook Live | Tickets
 
FORT MYERS, Fla. – The FGCU volleyball team (4-2) will open its 2018 home slate with a trio of matches this weekend as part of the Homewood Suites Fort Myers/FGCU Classic in Alico Arena.

The Eagles, who are coming off back-to-back championships in the Sunshine State Challenge (Aug. 24 – 25) and the Lobo Classic (Aug. 31 – Sept. 1), will begin with a 7 p.m. matchup against Albany on Friday. They will close out the event with meetings against Western Illinois and West Virginia on Saturday.

This will be the first-ever meeting between FGCU and all three of its weekend opponents.

LAST TIME OUT
The Green and Blue captured another tournament championship this past weekend by going 2-1 in the Lobo Classic on the campus of the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque. Dana Axner and Daniele Serrano were each named to the All-Lobo Classic team as FGCU knocked off New Mexico State and Eastern Kentucky.

The weekend performance also led to Axner (Dublin Coffman HS/Dublin, Ohio) earning her second straight ASUN freshman of the week award, while Serrano (Seminole HS/Sanford, Fla.) won her first career ASUN defensive player of the week nod. In the matchup against New Mexico, Serrano compiled 10 blocks to produce just the fourth such performance in the program's Division-I era (2007-present), and she owns two of them.

TEAM LEADERS
Kills – Cortney VanLiew (83)
Kills/Set – Cortney VanLiew (4.15)
Assists – Maggie Rick (138)
Assists/Set – Maggie Rick (6.90)
Service Aces – Alayna Ryan (7)
Digs – Dana Axner (83)
Digs/Set – Dana Axner (4.15)
Solo Blocks – Tori Morris, Sharonda Pickering, Daniele Serrano (4)
Block Assists – Daniele Serrano (24)
Total Blocks – Daniele Serrano (28)
Blocks/Set – Tori Morris (1.43)

DISHING IT OUT
With 64 more assists this past weekend, Maggie Rick now has 3,823 in her career, which is just 586 shy of eclipsing Gigi Meyer's career record of 4,408. She also recently moved up to ninth place in ASUN history and now needs 183 to surpass Kristi Piedimonte (Kennesaw State, 2014-17) for the next spot.
 
Including last weekend, Rick has also now produced at least 20 assists in 100 of 103 career matches, which also makes her just the ninth player in program history to reach the century mark in matches played. She's had at least 60 assists four times, 50-59 eight times, 40-49 23 times and 30-39 47 times.

With 85 more digs, she can become just the third player in program history with at least 1,000 assists and 700 digs in a career – joining Meyer (4,408 assists/947 digs) and Chandra Lefever (3,108 assists/765 digs). She also recorded her second double-double of the season and the 12th of her career against New Mexico.

Entering this season, Rick owned the program's third, fourth and fifth highest single season assist totals and three of the six highest single season totals in assists per set in the Division-I era.

SERRANO SAYS NO
Serrano, who has been a defensive presence at the net throughout her career, is now seventh in program history in solo blocks (37). She is also just one shy of tying Amanda Carroll and Kaitlin Holm for fifth place. Overall, she has produced 229 blocks in her career, which is fourth all-time and just 19 shy of moving past Ericka Fonseca (247) for third.

CARROLL MAKES HISTORY
Carroll (Albuquerque, N.M./Sandia HS) not only increased her program record kill total to 1,395 this past weekend, but she recorded her 1,000th dig against New Mexico State and sits at 1,003. In doing so, she became only the second player in program history with at least 1,000 kills and 1,000 digs – joining 2016 Rio Olympian Brooke Youngquist Sweat (1,173 kills, 1,369 digs). In terms of digs alone, Carroll sits in sixth place in program history.

The multi-dimensional star has notched double figure kills in 80 of 99 matches and double-digit digs in 47 of 99. Her 42 career double-doubles is the most in the program's Division-I era and the second most all-time behind Youngquist-Sweat (50, 2004-07).

COACHING MILESTONE
Head coach Matt Botsford is in his fifth season and needs just seven more victories to reach 100 in his career. He has compiled a 93-40 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.

SCOUTING WEST VIRGINIA
West Virginia has previously faced two of three teams they'll meet this weekend.

It's been 16 years since West Virginia and Western Illinois last squared off. The two teams have played just twice since 1998, with the Mountaineers claiming both matches at neutral sites.
 
WVU also will go head-to-head with Albany for the second time in program history. The Mountaineers earned the 3-1 victory over the Great Danes in their first-ever meeting on Sept. 1, 2007. On the other hand, FGCU is the last of three first-time opponents on the Mountaineers' 2018 schedule. The Green and Blue is the 246th opponent WVU will face in its 44-year history, as the Mountaineers went head-to-head with Stanford and Wichita State for the first time last weekend.
 
West Virginia is currently on a four-match losing streak, falling to a pair of teams ranked in the top-10 of the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Top-25 Poll at last weekend's BYU Nike Invitational, held in Provo, Utah. WVU opened play with host BYU on Aug. 30, falling in three sets to the No. 9-ranked Cougars. On Aug. 31, West Virginia captured the first set against Wichita State, but it wasn't enough, eventually dropping a 3-1 match to the Shockers. WVU also suffered a 3-0 loss to No. 1 Stanford in its final contest of the three-day tournament on Saturday.
 
Sophomore defensive specialist Lindsay Proctor earned all-tournament team honors for her efforts last weekend, starting all three matches at the libero position. She currently leads the team with 70 digs on the year, averaging 3.33 per set to rank ninth in the Big 12 Conference.
 
Additionally, sophomore middle blocker Katie DeMeo leads the Big 12 and ranks sixth nationally with 1.73 blocks per set, posting 26 blocks in 15 sets. Freshman middle blocker Kristina Jordan is tied for sixth in the league, with 26 blocks as well, averaging 1.30 per set. As a team, the Mountaineers rank second in the conference behind Texas, averaging 3.00 blocks per set. WVU also is tied for 12th nationally in the category with a pair of programs (Notre Dame and Washington State).
 
Seven of nine freshmen have made it into the Mountaineers rotation thus far, with outside hitter Kristin Lux and Jordan starting all six matches for West Virginia. Lux currently leads the squad with 51 kills for 2.43 per set, followed by junior outside hitter Katelyn Evans with 50 for 2.55 per set.
 
Of note, the Mountaineers are 10 wins away from collecting their 700th win in program history. West Virginia currently holds a 690-727 all-time record since its inaugural season in 1974.

SCOUTING ALBANY
Albany earned its first win of the season last weekend, taking down Southeastern Louisiana 3-1.

The Great Danes lead the American East Conference averaging 1.42 aces per set. Danielle Tedesco leads the conference with 0.42 aces per set, while Kelly Cameron ranks fourth with 0.38. Anna Chalupa joins her teammates with 0.29 aces per set — good for 10th overall.

Two-time America East Defensive Specialist of the Year, Nicole Otero enters the tournament averaging 5.72 digs per set. She is just seven digs away from eclipsing the 1,500 mark in her career as the senior's 1,493 digs rank fourth all-time in the Albany record book.

Junior Akuabata Okenwa earned Black Knight Invitational All-Tournament honors on Sept. 1, after racking up 35 kills and seven blocks over the weekend. Otero was named to the Sports Inform Classic All-Tournament Team on Aug. 25 following a tournament-high 46 digs.

SCOUTING WESTERN ILLINOIS
Jaime Johnson recorded her 1,000th assist in a Leatherneck uniform over the weekend. Mackenzie Steckler leads the Summit League in total blocks (34) and blocks per set (1.35)

Melanie Patenaude recorded 29 kills, while Emma Norris recorded 24 kills in the CEFCU Invitational. Claire Grove ranks third in the Summit League in digs per set with 4.25

The Leatherneck defense has been impressive this season, allowing opponents to hit at just a .159 clip (61st nationally, second in the Summit League). As a team, the Purple and Gold check in at 72nd nationally and first in the Summit League in total blocks (72). Cassie Hunt ranks 2nd in the league and 103rd in the nation with .44 aces per set
 
CHASING PROGRAM RECORDS

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

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. 3.13 - Devon WATTS (212 sets) - 2004-05
7. 3.10 - Cortney VANLIEW (126 sets) - 2017-present
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 Attempts
1. 3,588 - Amanda CARROLL (1395-467-3588) - 2015-present
2. 3,157 - Brooke YOUNGQUIST (1173-400-3157) - 2004-07
3. 2,725 - Jessica BARNES (961-433-2725) - 2010-11,13-14
4. 2,449 - Kaitlin HOLM (926-371-2449) - 2011-13
5. 2,356 - Olivia MESNER (1132-353-2356) - 2011-14

Attack Percentage
1. .403 - Cara ZIEGLER (312-56-636) - 2006-07
2. .363 - Ericka FONSECA (837-184-1801) - 2005-06
3. .342 - Daniele SERRANO (422-95-955) - 2016-present
4. .331 - Olivia MESNER (1132-353-2356) - 2011-14
5. .325 - Audrey CAMPBELL (292-71-679) - 2007-08

Assists
1. 4,408 - Gigi MEYER (474 sets) - 2011-14
2. 3,823 - Maggie RICK (367 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. 10.42 - Maggie RICK (367 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 - Roberta SANTOS (180 sets) - 2007-08
    99 - Gigi MEYER (474 sets) - 2011-14
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 (367 sets) - 2015-present

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. 765 - Chandra LEFEVER (309 sets) - 2006-07,09
10. 752 - Karissa RHOADES (282 sets) - 2015-present

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. 39 - Devon WATTS (212 sets) - 2004-05
5. 38 - Amanda CARROLL (348 sets) - 2015-present
    38 - Kaitlin HOLM (359 sets) - 2011-13
7. 37 - Daniele SERRANO (245 sets) - 2016-present
8. 35 - Kristy HARTLEY (92 sets) - 2004
9. 23 - Melissa DUFFIELD (62 sets) - 2005
    23 - Jacqueline COWDEN (171 sets) - 2009-10
 
Block Assists
1. 280 - Olivia MESNER (428 sets) - 2011-14
2. 242 - Ashley YANCE (313 sets) - 2005-09
3. 196 - Ericka FONSECA (216 sets) - 2005-06
4. 192 - Daniele SERRANO (245 sets) - 2016-present
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. 229 - Daniele SERRANO (245 sets) - 2016-present
5. 205 - Kaitlin HOLM (359 sets) - 2011-13
6. 197 - Marlene MOELLER (301 sets) - 2013-16
    197 - Karina MAMBUCA (233 sets) - 2012-13
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. 103 - Maggie RICK - 2015-present
10. 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) - .342
 
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) – 3,823
10. Kayla Weller (Stetson, 2012-15) – 3,789
 
ASUN ROUNDUP
1. Kennesaw State – 6-0 (0-0)

Weekend Matches: at No. 13 Pittsburgh (9/7; 11 AM - ACC Network Extra); vs. Dayton (9/8; 11 AM); vs. No. 12 Washington (9/8; 7 PM)
Last Three Matches: vs. Clemson (W, 3-1) vs. Presbyterian (W, 3-1); vs. High Point (W, 3-1)
 
2. FGCU – 4-2 (0-0)

Weekend Matches: vs. Albany (9/7; 7 PM - Facebook Live); vs. Western Illinois (9/8; 10:30 AM - Facebook Live); vs. West Virginia (9/8; 7 PM - Facebook Live)
Last Three Matches: vs. Eastern Kentucky (W, 3-0); at New Mexico (L, 3-1); vs. New Mexico State (W, 3-0)
 
2. Stetson – 4-2 (0-0)

Weekend Matches: vs. St. John's (9/7; 12 PM - Facebook Live); vs. Grambling (9/7; 5 PM - Facebook Live); at Stephen F. Austin (9/8; 1:30 - Facebook Live)
Last Three Matches: at Middle Tennessee State (W, 3-2); vs. Austin Peay (L, 3-0); vs. Troy (L, 3-2)
 
4. Lipscomb – 3-2 (0-0)

Weekend Matches: vs. Louisville (9/7; 11 AM CT); at No. 19 Purdue (9/7; 6:30 PM CT - BTN+); vs. Xavier (9/8; 4 PM CT)
Last Three Matches: vs. San Diego State (W, 3-0); vs. Pacific (L, 3-1); at Arizona (L, 3-0)

5. Liberty – 2-4 (0-0)

Weekend Matches: vs. South Carolina (9/7, 1 PM); vs. Colgate (9/8; 4 PM); at Maryland (9/9; 3 PM - BTN+)
Last Three Matches: at Rice (L, 3-0); vs. Houston Baptist (W, 3-0); vs. South Carolina (L, 3-1)

5. North Alabama – 2-4 (0-0)

Weekend Matches: vs. Tennessee Tech (9/7, 12:30 PM CT); vs. UL-Monroe (9/7, 4:30 PM CT); at Memphis (9/8, 1 PM CT - Memphis Tiger Network)
Last Three Matches: at Chattanooga (L, 3-2); vs. UNC-Asheville (W, 3-0); vs. Tennessee State (W, 3-2)

7. NJIT – 1-6 (0-0)

Weekend Matches: at La Salle (9/7, 7 PM - ESPN+); vs. Rider (9/8; 12:30 PM); vs. Kent State (9/8, 5 PM)
Last Three Matches: vs. Lehigh (L, 3-0); vs. Bucknell (L, 3-1); vs. Delaware State (W, 3-1)

7. North Florida – 1-6 (0-0)

Weekend Matches: vs. New Mexico (9/7; 7 PM - ESPN+); vs. USC Upstate (9/8; 1 PM - Facebook Live); vs. Furman (9/8; 7 PM - Facebook Live)
Last Three Matches: at Georgia Southern (W; 3-1); vs. Winthrop (L, 3-2); at Tennessee (L, 3-1)

9. Jacksonville – 0-5 (0-0)

Weekend Matches: vs. UT-Martin (9/7; 1 PM); vs. Alabama A&M (9/7; 4 PM); at Mercer (9/8; 1 PM)
Last Three Matches: vs. High Point (L, 3-1); vs. Presbyterian (L, 3-0); vs. San Jose State (L, 3-0)
 
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 an 93-40 (.699) 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 make a contribution, please visit www.fgcu.edu/foodpantry and utilize the hashtag #FeedFGCU to help.