FORT MYERS, Fla. - The top-ranked FGCU volleyball team (21-3, 9-1) will look to avenge its lone ASUN loss in a 7 p.m. matchup against Liberty (14-8, 7-3) on Tuesday in Alico Arena.
The match will be the first of three at home this week for FGCU, who will close out the home portion of their regular season schedule against Stetson on Friday at 7 p.m. and North Florida on Sunday at 2 p.m.
Going Streaking
The Eagles will enter the tilt having won 11 consecutive matches and 16 straight sets. As of Monday, they are one of only eight teams nationally with at least 20 wins, and their 21 victories is tied with Pittsburgh and South Dakota for the fourth-most in the nation.
Most Division I victories
1. Western Kentucky - 23
2. Stephen F. Austin - 22
Milwaukee - 22
4. FGCU - 21
Pittsburgh - 21
South Dakota - 21
7. Colorado State - 20
Towson - 20
Furthermore, FGCU's winning streak is tied for the eighth-longest in the nation. With Sunday's win over North Alabama, the Eagles are now five shy of matching the program's Division I era winning streak record of 16 that was set last year, and they're four shy of matching the regular season only streak of 15 that was set in 2016.
Longest Division I winning streaks
1. Western Kentucky - 20
2. Colorado State - 19
3. South Dakota - 18
4. Stephen F. Austin - 15
5. Towson - 14
6. Fairfield - 13
7. Creighton - 12
8. FGCU - 11
New Mexico State - 11
VCU - 11
ASUN Roundup
FGCU currently sits atop the ASUN standings with a 9-1 record, just ahead of Kennesaw State (8-2). While they'll have to wait for Nov. 8 to meet the Owls again, the Eagles will get a chance to avenge its only defeat in the past 16 matches with Tuesday's tilt against Liberty, who won three very close sets to upend FGCU 25-22, 25-23, 25-22 on Sept. 24.
Conference Standings
1. FGCU - 21-3, 9-1
2. Kennesaw State - 15-7, 8-2
3. Liberty - 14-8, 7-3
3. Lipscomb - 11-10, 7-3
5. Stetson - 9-11, 6-4
6. North Florida - 11-14, 4-6
7. Jacksonville - 7-17, 3-7
8. North Alabama - 3-21, 1-10
9. NJIT - 1-24, 0-9
Series History
FGCU and Liberty began their rivalry last year once the Flames joined the ASUN from the Big South. The Eagles hold a 3-1 record with all three wins coming last year - a five-setter in Lynchburg, a four-setter in Fort Myers and a sweep in the ASUN semifinals in Kennesaw, Ga.
In the meeting earlier this year,
Cortney VanLiew (12 kills),
Chelsey Lockey (27 assists) and
Dana Axner (24 digs) led the team, but the Flames produced 24 blocks as FGCU hit a season-low .048 as a team. In fact, that block total is the most that the Eagles have allowed in a three-set match this year and the second most overall behind 27 vs UCF on Sept. 20.
Highest RPI
FGCU was ranked 44th in the season's first official RPI rankings, which was the highest in program history. They were ranked 48th the following week, 52nd last week and 63rd this week, which remains the highest among all conference teams.
#63 FGCU
#90 Kennesaw State
#132 Liberty
#176 Lipscomb
#220 Stetson
#256 North Florida
#280 Jacksonville
#300 North Alabama
#318 NJIT
Green and Blue Notes
Last Tuesday,
Axner (Dublin, Ohio/Dublin Coffman HS) became the seventh player in program history to reach 1,000 career digs in the team's straight-set win over Bethune-Cookman. She tallied 20 in the match and now sits at 1,019. 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
Amanda Carroll on Aug. 31, 2018.
Furthermore, Axner has extended her season-high streak of matches with 10 or more digs to 16. 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 395 digs overall and 5.13 per set rank 45th and 17th, 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 along with
Carroll (Albuquerque, N.M./Sandia HS) and Brooke Youngquist Sweat, has double-digit kills in 19 of 24 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 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 second with 436.0, just 39 shy of surpassing Meredith Hardy's (ETSU, 2010-13, 474.0) all-time mark.
Lockey (Eaton, Colo./Eaton HS) has tallied at least 20 assists in every match this year, as well as 30 or more in 21 of 24 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 as two matches with at least 30 assists, five kills, five digs and two blocks. She is 112 assists shy of producing the 10th season with at least 1,000 in program history.
Snowy Burnam (Palm City, Fla./Jensen Beach HS) needs 11 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 536 and moved into a tie for ninth place in career block assists over the weekend. She also needs two more total blocks to move into the top 10 in that category.
ASUN Leaders (Top 10 through Oct. 27)
Kills - VanLiew (1st, 326)
Kills/Set - VanLiew (1st, 4.23)
Hitting Percentage - Jones (8th, .308), Serrano/Shomaker (T-9th, .307)
Assists - Lockey (3rd, 889)
Assists/Set - Lockey (2nd, 11.11)
Aces - Carroll (T-3rd, 31), Lockey (T-10th, 23)
Digs - Axner (3rd, 395)
Digs/Set - Axner (1st, 5.13)
Solo Blocks - Serrano (T-8th, 9)
Block Assists - Morris (5th, 65), Serrano (T-6th, 64)
Total Blocks - Serrano (5th, 73), Morris (6th, 72)
Blocks/Set - Morris (2nd, 1.14), Serrano (6th, 0.99), Jones (8th, 0.90)
Points - VanLiew (2nd, 363.5)
Points/Set - VanLiew (T-1st, 4.7)
NCAA Individual Leaders (Top 50 through Oct. 27)
Assists/Set - Lockey (21st, 11.10)
Attacks/Set - VanLiew (44th, 10.94)
Digs/Set - Axner (17th, 5.13)
Kills/Set - VanLiew (31st, 4.23)
Points - VanLiew (46th, 363.5)
Points/Set - VanLiew (33rd, 4.72)
Total Assists - Lockey (11th, 888)
Total Digs - Axner (45th, 395)
Total Kills - VanLiew (39th, 326)
NCAA Team Leaders (Top 50 through Oct. 27)
Aces/Set - 47th, 1.60
Assists/Set - 32nd, 12.75
Blocks/Set - 48th, 2.45
Hitting Percentage - 19th, .272
Kills/Set - 36th, 13.61
W-L Percentage - 11th, .875
Opponent Hitting Percentage - 4th, .134
Total Blocks - 50th, 196.0
FGCU CAREER RECORD BOOK (DIVISION I ERA, 2007-PRESENT)
Kills
1. 1,450 - Amanda Carroll (.257) - 2015-present
2. 1,132 - Olivia MESNER (.331) - 2011-14
3. 1,116 - Cortney VanLiew (.237) - 2017-present
4. 961 - Jessica BARNES (.194) - 2010-11,13-14
5. 926 - Kaitlin HOLM (.227) - 2011-13
6. 768 - 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. 589 - Snowy Burnam (.232) - 2017-present
Attack attempts
1. 3,749 - Amanda Carroll (1,450-486-3,749) - 2015-present
2. 3,069 - Cortney VanLiew (1,116-388-3,069) - 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. 1,753 - Daniele Serrano (768-174-1,753) - 2016-present
10. 1,666 - Snowy Burnam (589-202-1,666) - 2017-present
11. 1,574 - Ana KOKANOVIC (678-236-1574) - 2007-08
12. 1,551 - Giovanna Borgiotti (543-265-1,551) - 2016-present
Digs
1. 1.687 - Whitney MASTERS (483 sets) - 2011-14
2. 1,652 - Holly YOUNGQUIST (418 sets) - 2008-11
3. 1,181 - Amanda CARROLL (423 sets) - 2015-19
4. 1,084 - Courtney STEPHENS (451 sets) - 2014-17
5. 1,019 - Dana AXNER (197 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. 692 - Cortney VANLIEW (302 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. 1,364 - Chelsey LOCKEY (190 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. 188 - Dana AXNER (197 sets) - 2018-present
Solo Blocks
1. 63 - Daniele Serrano (414 sets) - 2016-present
2. 62 - Olivia MESNER (428 sets) - 2011-14
3. 42 - Amanda Carroll (423 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 (302 sets) - 2017-present
9. 21 - Karina MAMBUCA (233 sets) - 2012-13
21 - Roberta SANTOS (180 sets) - 2007-08
Block assists
1. 373 - Daniele Serrano (414 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 (423 sets) - 2015-19
9. 153 - Snowy Burnam (282 sets) - 2017-present
153 - Eleonora KAZARIAN (213 sets) - 2014-15
Total blocks
1. 436 - Daniele Serrano (414 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 (423 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. 164 - Snowy Burnam (282 sets) - 2017-present
Blocks per set (min. 150 sets)
1. 1.05 - Daniele Serrano (414 sets) - 2016-present
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. 1,702.5 - Amanda Carroll (1,450k 132a 42-157b) - 2015-present
2. 1,338.0 - Olivia MESNER (1,132k 4a 62-280b) - 2011-14
3. 1,244.0 - Cortney VanLiew (1,116k 61a 22-90b) - 2017-present
4. 1,087.5 - Kaitlin HOLM (926k 40a 38-167b) - 2011-13
5. 1,045.5 - Jessica BARNES (961k 43a 13-57b) - 2010-11,13-14
6. 1,019.5 - Daniele Serrano (768k 2a 63-373b) - 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. 707.5 - Snowy Burnam (589k 31a 11-153b) - 2017-present
Matches played
1. 131 - Maggie RICK - 2015-18
2. 126 - Gigi MEYER - 2011-14
126 - Courtney STEPHENS - 2014-17
126 - Whitney MASTERS - 2011-14
5. 123 - Karissa RHOADES - 2015-18
6. 122 - Amanda Carroll - 2015-present
122 - Daniele Serrano - 2016-present
8. 119 - Caroline JORDAN - 2013-16
9. 114 - Olivia MESNER - 2011-14
10. 113 - Holly YOUNGQUIST - 2008-11
11. 103 - Giovanna Borgiotti - 2016-present
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) - 1,450
10. Katie Plummer (Mercer, 2001-04) - 1,390
Total Blocks
1. Meredith Hardy (ETSU, 2010-13) - 474.0
2. Daniele Serrano (FGCU, 2016-present) - 436.0
3. Morgan Van Alstine (North Florida, 2013-16) - 435.0
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 136-48 (.739) record overall, including a 66-16 (.805) 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 79 conference regular season and tournament titles in just 12 plus seasons at the Division-I level. Additionally, in just eight plus 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.
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