FGCU vs Bethune-Cookman
When	Tuesday, Oct. 22 at 6 p.m.
Where	Fort Myers, Fla. | Alico Arena
Live Stats	StatBroadcast
Live Stream	Facebook Live
Twitter	@FGCU_VB
Instagram	@FGCU_VB
Facebook	FGCU Volleyball

 
FORT MYERS, Fla. - The FGCU volleyball team (18-3) will close out the non-conference portion of its regular season schedule with a 6 p.m. matchup against Bethune-Cookman (6-16) on Tuesday in Alico Arena.
 
SERIES HISTORY
The Eagles have produced a 13-0 record all-time against the Wildcats, which represents the program's most wins against a non-conference school, edging a 10-5 record against Florida International. USC Upstate (20-0) and Mercer (10-2) have also had double-digit losses given to them by FGCU, but all of those wins came when those two teams were in the ASUN. The Wildcats have won just five sets all-time against the Eagles, as well.
 
RECORD CHASERS
Two major storylines entering Tuesday's match is the record chasing production of Daniele Serrano and Dana Axner.
 
Serrano (Sanford, Fla./Seminole HS), a senior middle blocker, is currently third all-time in ASUN history with 430 blocks, and she needs just six more to move into second place. In terms of conference rankings this year, she ranks fifth in solo blocks (9), fourth in block assists (58) and fourth in total blocks (67).
 
1. Meredith Hardy (ETSU, 2010-13) - 474.0
2. Morgan Van Alstine (North Florida, 2013-16) - 435.0
3. Daniele Serrano (FGCU, 2016-present) - 430.0
 
Axner (Dublin, Ohio/Dublin Coffman HS), meanwhile, sits just 17 digs shy of becoming only the seventh player in the program's history to reach 1,000 in a career. And she'd be the first to achieve the milestone as a sophomore in the Division I era (2007-present). The only other player to do it in her first two seasons was Whitney Hendry, who had 1,108 at the end of her sophomore campaign - although her first three seasons came when the Eagles competed at the Division II level. Last year, Axner had 20 digs in the team's straight-set win over Bethune-Cookman on the road.
 
TEAM SUCCESS
As a team, FGCU has captured a season-high eight straight victories overall and 16 straight home matches dating back to Oct. 7 of last year. They'll begin the second half of conference play on Friday at Jacksonville as the Eagles are currently tied for first place with Kennesaw State at 7-1.
 
Current ASUN Standings
1. FGCU - 18-3, 7-1
1. Kennesaw State - 14-6, 7-1
3. Lipscomb - 9-9, 5-2
4. Liberty - 12-8, 5-3
5. Stetson - 7-11, 4-4
6. North Florida - 10-12, 3-4
7. Jacksonville - 7-15, 3-5
8. North Alabama - 3-18, 1-7
9. NJIT - 1-22, 0-8

HIGHEST RPI
FGCU was ranked 44th in the season's first official RPI rankings, which was their highest in program history. Last week, they were ranked 48th, and they're slotted 52nd this week, which remains the highest among all conference teams.
 
#52 FGCU
#79 Kennesaw State
#132 Liberty
#161 Lipscomb
#249 Stetson
#256 North Florida
#281 Jacksonville
#305 North Alabama
#312 NJIT
 
NCAA Individual Leaders (Top 50 through Oct. 20)
Assists/Set - Lockey (14th, 11.21)
Attacks/Set - VanLiew (34th, 11.14)
Digs/Set - Axner (24th, 5.06)
Kills/Set - VanLiew (29th, 4.29)
Points - VanLiew (44th, 332.5)
Points/Set - VanLiew (30th, 4.82)
Assists - Lockey (17th, 796)
Digs - Axner (47th, 359)
Kills - VanLiew (39th, 296)

NCAA Team Leaders (Top 50 through Oct. 20)
Assists/Set - 27th, 12.76
Blocks/Set - 33rd, 2.54
Hitting Percentage - 27th, 0.265
Kills/Set - 37th, 13.51
Opponent Hitting Percentage - 6th, .140
Blocks - 48th, 180.0
 
Fall Sports Single-Game, Season and Group Tickets On Sale
Single game tickets for volleyball, men's soccer and women's soccer are on sale now. Prices are $7 for adults and $5 for military/veterans (with ID) and youth (age 15 and under).
 
Season tickets (entry to each home game) are $55 for volleyball and women's soccer and $40 for men's soccer. Group tickets are $7 for groups of 15 or more and will include reserved seats, group recognition, a group activity and choice of FGCU gear or food. Fall Frequent Flyer passes, which includes a total of 30 entries to all three sports, are just $99.
 
For all inquiries, you can visit FGCUtickets.com, call 239-590-7145 or stop by the ticket office, which is open daily Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and one hour prior to all home events.
 
COACH BOTSFORD
Matt Botsford is in his sixth season as head coach of the FGCU women's volleyball program in 2019 after being hired on Feb. 10, 2014. In his tenure, Botsford-led teams have compiled a 134-48 (.736) record overall, including a 64-16 (.800) record in ASUN play. Including this past season, 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 four straight seasons and at least 10 wins in conference play five 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 next two, which saw .267 and .256 percentages, are the third and fourth highest in program history. In 2018, he led the program to its first regular season championship since 2012 (fourth overall) and its first-ever ASUN tournament title, NCAA tournament appearance, NCAA tournament win and victory over a ranked team. His first two campaigns resulted in ASUN regular season runner-up finishes, and the following two saw 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. This past season, he led the team to a win over Miami (Fla.) - the program's first-ever road Power-5 win.
 
#FEEDFGCU
FGCU Athletics sponsors events in November and April 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 raise awareness.
 
ABOUT FGCU
FGCU teams have combined to win an incredible 78 conference regular season and tournament titles in just 12 seasons at the Division-I level. Additionally, in just eight seasons of D-I postseason eligibility, the Eagles have had a combined 36 teams or individuals compete in NCAA championships. Seven FGCU programs have earned a top-25 national ranking in their respective sport – including both men's and women's soccer again in 2018. In 2016-17, the Green and Blue posted a department-best sixth-place finish in the DI-AAA Learfield Directors' Cup and top-100 showing nationally, ahead of several Power-5 and FBS institutions. In 2018-19, the Eagles had an ASUN and state of Florida best seven teams earn the NCAA's Public Recognition Award for their Academic Progress Rate in their sport. FGCU also collectively earned a record 3.35 GPA in the classroom in the spring 2018 semester and has outperformed the general University undergraduate population for twenty consecutive semesters. The Eagles also served an all-time high 7,200 volunteer hours in 2017 – being recognized as one of two runners-up for the inaugural NACDA Community Service Award presented by the Fiesta Bowl.
 
--FGCUATHLETICS.COM--