JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - The top-ranked FGCU volleyball team (19-3), which has won nine straight matches and 10 consecutive sets, will begin a two-match road excursion against Jacksonville on Friday at 7 p.m. before concluding the trip against North Alabama on Sunday at 2 p.m.
ASUN Roundup
The weekend trip signifies the beginning of the second half of ASUN play as the Eagles are currently tied with Kennesaw State atop the conference standings. FGCU's lone loss came to Liberty, while Lipscomb has elevated up to third place in the standings behind six consecutive sweeps - including a straight-set win over Liberty on Oct. 5.
Standings
1. FGCU - 19-3, 7-1
1. Kennesaw State - 14-6, 7-1
3. Lipscomb - 11-9, 7-2
4. Liberty - 12-8, 5-3
5. Stetson - 7-11, 4-4
6. North Florida - 10-13, 3-5
6. Jacksonville - 7-15, 3-5
8. North Alabama - 3-19, 1-8
9. NJIT - 1-23, 0-8
Carroll's Dominance Against Dolphins
Redshirt senior
Amanda Carroll has dominated Jacksonville over nine career matches. In just 33 sets, she has compiled 149 kills, 147 digs and 22 blocks. The New Mexico native has also produced six of her Division I era program-record 43 career double-doubles against the Dolphins, including four matches with at least 15 kills and 15 digs. In fact, her 23-kill, 32-dig performance against Jacksonville in her very first match against them as a freshman is the only 20-plus kill, 30-plus dig match in program history.
Carroll match-by-match against Jacksonville
Oct. 17, 2015 - 23 kills, 32 digs, 9 blocks (2 solo)
Oct. 31, 2015 - 18 kills, 17 digs, 1 block
Oct. 14, 2016 - 14 kills, 9 digs, 2 blocks
Oct. 29, 2016 - 15 kills, 13 digs, 4 blocks (3 solo)
Nov. 17, 2016 - 27 kills, 13 digs
Oct. 13, 2017 - 8 kills, 13 digs, 3 blocks (2 solo)
Oct. 28, 2017 - 21 kills, 16 digs
Nov. 17, 2017 - 18 kills, 17 digs, 3 blocks
Oct. 11, 2019 - 5 kills, 17 digs
Series History
FGCU has won four straight and eight of the past nine against Jacksonville. That stretch has come on the heels of the Dolphins claiming six of the prior eight matchups. The Eagles lead the all-time series 19-11, including the past four in straight sets.
On Oct. 11,
Erin Shomaker (Granville, Ohio/Granville HS) tallied 10 kills at a .692 clip in a win over Jacksonville, while
Carroll (Albuquerque, N.M./Sandia HS) and
Dana Axner had 17 and 13 digs, respectively.
Chelsey Lockey also chipped in a match-high 40 assists.
Meanwhile, the Eagles have captured straight-set wins in each of their three all-time matchups against North Alabama, including one on Sept. 27 of this season in Alico Arena. In that match,
Cortney VanLiew had 16 kills in just two sets played, while
Lockey (Eaton, Colo./Eaton HS) had 37 assists.
Axner (Dublin, Ohio/Dublin Coffman HS) added 15 digs.
Highest RPI
FGCU was ranked 44th in the season's first official RPI rankings, which was the 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
Green and Blue Notes
Axner became the seventh player in program history to reach 1,000 career digs in the team's most recent outing, a straight-set win over Bethune-Cookman on Tuesday. She tallied 20 in the match and now sits at 1,003. The sophomore reached the milestone in just 56 career matches, becoming the fastest to do so in program history, and she already ranks fifth in the program's Division I era in career digs. The last player to reach the milestone was Carroll on Aug. 31, 2018.
Furthermore, Axner has extended her season-high streak of matches with 10 or more digs to 15. She had her career-high 28-match streak snapped on Sept. 13 against Indiana, which was the only time this year she failed to record at least 10 and was a streak that dated back to Sept. 21 of last year. Nationally, her 379 digs overall and 5.12 per set rank 36th and 20th, respectively.
VanLiew (Seymour, Ind./Columbus East HS), who is one of just three players in program history to achieve at least 1,000 kills and 500 digs in a career, has double-digit kills in 18 of 22 matches overall this year. On Oct. 5, she concluded a program record-tying streak of 15 consecutive matches with at least 10 or more kills, tying Eleonora Kazarian (Sept. 20 - Nov. 7, 2014) and Ana Kokanovic (Oct. 4 - Nov. 15, 2008). On top of that, she has seven of her 26 career double-doubles this year and she ranks among the top 50 nationally in attacks/set, kills/set, points, points/set and kills.
Daniele Serrano (Sanford, Fla./Seminole HS), a senior middle blocker who already holds all of FGCU's career blocking records, continues her chase to become the ASUN's all-time blocks leader. She currently sits in third with 431.0, just five behind sole possession of second place and 44 shy of surpassing Meredith Hardy's (ETSU, 2010-13) all-time mark.
1. Meredith Hardy (ETSU, 2010-13) - 474.0
2. Morgan Van Alstine (North Florida, 2013-16) - 435.0
3.
Daniele Serrano (FGCU, 2016-present) - 431.0
Lockey has tallied at least 20 assists in every match this year, as well as 30 or more in 20 of 22 matches. Furthermore, she has eight matches with at least 40, including a career-high 54 against San Diego State on Aug. 31 and UCF on Sept. 20. She has five double-doubles this year in assists and digs, as well has two matches with at least 30 assists, five kills, five digs and two blocks. She is 169 assists shy of producing the 10th season with at least 1,000 in program history.
Snowy Burnam (Palm City, Fla./Jensen Beach HS) needs 21 more kills to become the 11th player in the program's Division I era with at least 600 in a career. She also sits 14th in career digs with 522, while needing four block assists and six total blocks to move into the top 10 in both those categories.
Home Stretch
After this weekend, the Green and Blue will close their regular season home schedule with three matches next week - Liberty at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Stetson at 7 p.m. on Friday and North Florida at 2 p.m. on Sunday.
ASUN Leaders (Top 10 through Oct. 23)
Kills - VanLiew (1st, 301)
Kills/Set - VanLiew (1st, 4.24)
Hitting Percentage - Jones (.310), Serrano (.305), Shomaker (.304)
Assists - Lockey (3rd, 831)
Assists/Set - Lockey (1st, 11.22)
Aces - Carroll (T-6th, 25), Burnam (T-10th, 21)
Digs - Axner (3rd, 379)
Digs/Set - Axner (1st, 5.12)
Solo Blocks - Serrano (T-5th, 9)
Block Assists - Serrano (5th, 59), Morris (6th, 58)
Total Blocks - Serrano (4th, 68), Morris (T-6th, 65)
Blocks/Set - Morris (2nd, 1.12), Serrano (T-5th, 1.00), Jones (T-7th, 0.96)
Points - VanLiew (3rd, 337.5)
Points/Set - VanLiew (T-1st, 4.8)
NCAA Individual Leaders (Top 50 through Oct. 23)
Assists/Set - Lockey (13th, 11.23)
Attacks/Set - VanLiew (36th, 11.13)
Digs/Set - Axner (20th, 5.12)
Kills/Set - VanLiew (30th, 4.24)
Points - VanLiew (39th, 337.5)
Points/Set - VanLiew (34th, 4.75)
Total Assists - Lockey (8th, 831)
Total Digs - Axner (36th, 379)
Total Kills - VanLiew (38th, 301)
NCAA Team Leaders (Top 50 through Oct. 23)
Assists/Set - 24th, 12.82
Blocks/Set - 41st, 2.50
Hitting Percentage - 28th, .264
Kills/Set - 33rd, 13.59
W-L Percentage - 15th, .864
Opponent Hitting Percentage - 5th, .137
Total Blocks - 34th, 185.0
FGCU CAREER RECORD BOOK (DIVISION I ERA, 2007-PRESENT)
Kills
1. 1,447 - Amanda Carroll (.257) - 2015-present
2. 1,132 - Olivia MESNER (.331) - 2011-14
3. 1,091 - Cortney VanLiew (.234) - 2017-present
4. 961 - Jessica BARNES (.194) - 2010-11,13-14
5. 926 - Kaitlin HOLM (.227) - 2011-13
6. 759 - Daniele Serrano (.339) - 2016-present
7. 725 - Jill HOPPER (.203) - 2011-13
8. 693 - Eleonora KAZARIAN (.225) - 2014-15
9. 678 - Ana KOKANOVIC (.281) - 2007-08
10. 649 - Jelena SIMIC (.206) - 2009,11
11. 579 - Snowy Burnam (.230) - 2017-present
Attack attempts
1. 3,742 - Amanda Carroll (1,447-486-3742) - 2015-present
2. 3,017 - Cortney VanLiew (1,091-384-3,017) - 2017-present
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
6. 1,889 - Jill HOPPER (725-342-1889) - 2011-13
7. 1,846 - Jelena SIMIC (649-269-1846) - 2009,11
8. 1,808 - Eleonora KAZARIAN (693-287-1808) - 2014-15
9. 1,736 - Daniele Serrano (759-171-1736) - 2016-present
10. 1,643 - Snowy Burnam (579-201-1,643) - 2017-present
11. 1,574 - Ana KOKANOVIC (678-236-1574) - 2007-08
12. 1,546 - Giovanna Borgiotti (540-264-1,546) - 2016-present
Digs
1. 1,687 - Whitney MASTERS (483 sets) - 2011-14
2. 1,652 - Holly YOUNGQUIST (418 sets) - 2008-11
3. 1,168 - Amanda Carroll (417 sets) - 2015-present
4. 1,084 - Courtney STEPHENS (451 sets) - 2014-17
5. 1,003 - Dana Axner (194 sets) - 2018-present
6. 947 - Gigi MEYER (474 sets) - 2011-14
7. 877 - Karissa RHOADES (379 sets) - 2015-18
8. 823 - Maggie RICK (467 sets) - 2015-18
9. 682 - Cortney VanLiew (296 sets) - 2017-present
10. 681 - Vanessa BENKE (164 sets) - 2013-15
Assists
1. 4,540 - Maggie RICK (467 sets) - 2015-18
2. 4,408 - Gigi MEYER (474 sets) - 2011-14
3. 1,668 - Chandra LEFEVER (201 sets) - 2007,09
4. 1,475 - Roberta SANTOS (180 sets) - 2007-08
5. 1,307 - Chelsey Lockey (184 sets) - 2018-present
6. 1,089 - Camil DOMINGUEZ (164 sets) - 2010-11
7. 510 - Courtney GREENBERG (115 sets) - 2012-13
8. 309 - Whitney MASTERS (483 sets) - 2011-14
9. 238 - Holly YOUNGQUIST (418 sets) - 2008-11
10. 186 - Dana Axner (194 sets) - 2018-present
Solo Blocks
1. 63 - Daniele Serrano (408 sets) - 2016-present
2. 62 - Olivia MESNER (428 sets) - 2011-14
3. 42 - Amanda Carroll (417 sets) - 2015-present
4. 41 - Ashley YANCE (296 sets) - 2007-09
5. 38 - Kaitlin HOLM (359 sets) - 2011-13
6. 24 - Sharonda PICKERING (168 sets) - 2017-18
7. 23 - Jacqueline COWDEN (171 sets) - 2009-10
8. 22 - Cortney VanLiew (296 sets) - 2017-present
9. 21 - Karina MAMBUCA (233 sets) - 2012-13
21 - Roberta SANTOS (180 sets) - 2007-08
Block assists
1. 368 - Daniele Serrano (408 sets) - 2016-present
2. 280 - Olivia MESNER (428 sets) - 2011-14
3. 230 - Ashley YANCE (296 sets) - 2007-09
4. 180 - Marlene MOELLER (301 sets) - 2013-16
5. 176 - Karina MAMBUCA (233 sets) - 2012-13
6. 167 - Kaitlin HOLM (359 sets) - 2011-13
7. 159 - Lauren TUTWILER (208 sets) - 2014-15
8. 157 - Amanda Carroll (417 sets) - 2015-present
9. 153 - Eleonora KAZARIAN (213 sets) - 2014-15
10. 152 - Sharonda PICKERING (168 sets) - 2017-18
11. 149 - Snowy Burnam (276 sets) - 2017-present
Total blocks
1. 431 - Daniele Serrano (408 sets) - 2016-present
2. 342 - Olivia MESNER (428 sets) - 2011-14
3. 271 - Ashley YANCE (296 sets) - 2007-09
4. 205 - Kaitlin HOLM (359 sets) - 2011-13
5. 199 - Amanda Carroll (417 sets) - 2015-present
6. 197 - Karina MAMBUCA (233 sets) - 2012-13
197 - Marlene MOELLER (301 sets) - 2013-16
8. 176 - Sharonda PICKERING (168 sets) - 2017-18
9. 170 - Lauren TUTWILER (208 sets) - 2014-15
10. 165 - Eleonora KAZARIAN (213 sets) - 2014-15
11. 160 - Snowy Burnam (276 sets) - 2017-present
Blocks per set (min. 150 sets)
1. 1.06 - Daniele Serrano (408 sets) - 2016-present
2. 1.05 - Sharonda PICKERING (168 sets) - 2017-18
3. 0.92 - Ashley YANCE (296 sets) - 2007-09
4. 0.85 - Roberta SANTOS (180 sets) - 2007-08
5. 0.85 - Karina MAMBUCA (233 sets) - 2012-13
Points
1. 1,693.5 - Amanda Carroll (1,447k 126a 42-157b) - 2015-present
2. 1,338.0 - Olivia MESNER (1,132k 4a 62-280b) - 2011-14
3. 1,218.0 - Cortney VanLiew (1,091k 60a 22-90b) - 2017-19
4. 1,087.5 - Kaitlin HOLM (926k 40a 38-167b) - 2011-13
5. 1,045.5 - Jessica BARNES (961k 43a 13-57b) - 2010-11,13-1
6. 1,008.0 - Daniele Serrano (759k 2a 63-368b) - 2016-present
7. 877.5 - Jill HOPPER (725k 88a 18-93b) - 2011-13
8. 845.5 - Ana KOKANOVIC (678k 139a 9-39b) - 2007-08
9. 821.5 - Eleonora KAZARIAN (693k 40a 12-153b) - 2014-15
10. 718.0 - Jelena SIMIC (649k 43a 12-28b) - 2009,11
11. 694.5 - Snowy Burnam (579k 30a 11-149b) - 2017-present
Matches played
1. 131 - Maggie RICK - 2015-18
2. 126 - Gigi MEYER - 2011-14
126 - Whitney MASTERS - 2011-14
126 - Courtney STEPHENS - 2014-17
5. 123 - Karissa RHOADES - 2015-18
6. 120 - Amanda Carroll - 2015-present
120 - Daniele Serrano - 2016-present
7. 119 - Caroline JORDAN - 2013-16
9. 114 - Olivia MESNER - 2011-14
10. 113 - Holly YOUNGQUIST - 2008-11
ASUN CAREER RECORD BOOK (ALL-TIME)
Kills
1. Megan Devine (ETSU, 2010-13) - 1,940
2. Carlyle Nusbaum (Lipscomb, 2015-18) - 1,715
3. Alex Kelly (Lipscomb, 2007-10) - 1,746
4. Lauren Ford (Lipscomb, 2011-14) - 1,597
5. Paige Pridgeon (North Florida, 2009-12) - 1,593
6. Maggie Johnson (Belmont, 2008-11) - 1,558
7. Lindsay Cleveland (Belmont, 2002-05) - 1,552
8. Jewell Dobson (Lipscomb, 2011-15) - 1,525
9. Amanda Carroll (FGCU, 2015-present) - 1,447
10. Katie Plummer (Mercer, 2001-04) - 1,390
Total Blocks
1. Meredith Hardy (ETSU, 2010-13) - 474.0
2. Morgan Van Alstine (North Florida, 2013-16) - 435.0
3. Daniele Serrano (FGCU, 2016-present) - 431.0
4. Rachel Templin (Campbell, 2003-06) - 422.0
5. Danielle Neville (Jacksonville, 2002-05) - 408.0
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.
