FORT MYERS, Fla. - Cortney VanLiew and Dana Axner highlighted the FGCU volleyball team's success at the conference's postseason awards banquet at the Cohen Center on campus Tuesday.
 
VanLiew (Seymour, Ind./Columbus East HS) became the first two-time ASUN player of the year in program history, including the ASUN's first outright back-to-back winner since 2009. Axner (Dublin, Ohio/Dublin Coffman HS) captured the conference's defensive player of the year award and became a two-time winner in unanimous fashion.
 
Erin Shomaker won the freshman of the year award, while three others captured all-conference recognition - Snowy Burnam, Chelsey Lockey and Daniele Serrano. On top of that, Matt Botsford was named the ASUN Coach of the Year, and it was the third time in the past five years that the Eagles placed five players on the all-conference team.
 
"Seeing our players honored is always a proud moment, and I'm so happy for each of them," FGCU head coach Matt Botsford said. "These young women have worked extremely hard, and their dedication toward their own development has put them in a position where they are among the top players in our conference. Aside from the talents they each possess, it takes a special desire to push yourself outside of your comfort zone to grow those talents in the way that they have."
 
CORTNEY VANLIEW
ASUN PLAYER OF THE YEAR
FIRST TEAM ALL-ASUN
ALL-ACADEMIC TEAM
 
VanLiew captured her second straight ASUN player of the year award behind an ASUN-high and 36th nationally 4.13 kills per set. In ASUN play, she averaged 4.08 kills per set and was a two-time conference player of the week. She had 22 matches with at least 10 kills, including a program-record tying 15 consecutive match streak from Aug. 31 to Oct. 5. She had six double-doubles this year to push her career total to 19, ranks 37th and 43rd nationally in points per set and kills, respectively, and has 47 blocks for a team that ranks third nationally in opponent hitting percentage. She eclipsed 1,000 career kills this year and is one of just three players in program history with 1,000 kills and 500 digs. She is now second in program history in career kills as a junior.
 
"Cortney has continued to evolve on the court this season, and it is evident by the strides she has made as a passer, a blocker and a server," Botsford said. "She has developed into a player that can impact the game in a variety of ways well beyond the great job she does as an attacker. To be awarded player of the year two years in a row is a remarkable achievement, and she has worked extremely hard to put herself in that position. "
 
DANA AXNER
ASUN DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
FIRST TEAM ALL-ASUN
 
Axner, who entered this year as the reigning ASUN defensive player and freshman of the year, was a four-time ASUN defensive player of the week in 2019, which gives her five for a career and ties the ASUN record for most all-time. Last year, she broke the conference record for most freshman of the week selections.
 
"Dana is among the most consistent and reliable players I have ever coached and to think she is only a sophomore really speaks to kind of competitor she is," Botsford said. "The job she does for us in the libero position has influenced our entire team defense, and this season she has taken that to another level. Dana's energy is infectious on the court and her commitment to her craft has helped make us a much more well-rounded team."
 
The sophomore libero has double-digit digs in all but two matches this year and became the youngest player in program history to reach 1,000 career digs. She has 10 matches with at least 20 digs, including seven in ASUN play. Her 504 digs ranks third in the ASUN and 32nd nationally. Her 5.42 digs per set leads the ASUN and ranks 14th-best in the country, and she has produced three of the program's top 10 all-time three-set dig totals vs ASUN opponents this season alone - 24 vs Liberty, 23 vs Stetson and 22 vs North Florida. She had 21 consecutive double-digit dig performances this year and also ranks 13th in the ASUN in aces. She upped her digs per set average up to 5.54 in conference play alone, which was also best in the conference.
 
ERIN SHOMAKER
ASUN FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
ASUN ALL-FRESHMEN TEAM
 
Shomaker's (Granville, Ohio/Granville HS) selection gives FGCU three straight and four of the past five ASUN freshman of the year recipients. In fact, this year's team now has eight current or former all-freshmen team selections.
 
The 6-2 outside hitter finished fourth among all ASUN freshmen in hitting percentage (.273). Among all ASUN players overall, she finished 18th in total kills (215), 21st in kills per set (2.31) and 14th in hitting percentage. She had nine matches with double-digit attacks and at least a .300 hitting percentage, along with five double-digit kill performances, including 11 vs No. 15 Kentucky, 12 against Miami (Fla.) and 10 in a win over Liberty. She totaled 39 blocks on a team that is third in the nation in opponent hitting percentage and hit a season-high .727 (among matches with double-digit attempts) vs USF on Sept. 6.
 
"I'm always so impressed by any freshman that can come in and find a way to contribute immediately," Botsford said. "That is a tough task for anyone. To see what Erin has been able to do on the court for us and how quickly she has done it, has been pretty amazing. She has already shown the ability to be a terminating player on the offensive end and she continues to make great strides as a blocker. Considering that we have used her along every position in the front row, her versatility has been a welcome and valued addition to this team."
 
Shomaker is the third straight and fifth player overall in program history to win the conference's top freshman award, joining Axner (2018), Burnam (2017), Amanda Carroll (2015) and Jill Hopper (2011).
 
DANIELE SERRANO
SECOND TEAM ALL-ASUN
 
Serrano (Sanford, Fla./Seminole HS) is just three blocks away from becoming the ASUN's all-time career leader. The senior middle blocker has broken every career and single-season FGCU blocking record, while tallying a team-high 109 blocks on a squad that is ranked 3rd nationally in opponent hitting percentage. Her career .339 hitting percentage ranks ninth in ASUN history.
 
"Dani has had another spectacular season, as we have grown to expect," Botsford said. "She is such a smart player and reads the game so well. It really is a joy to watch her compete. The impact she has on both the defensive and offensive sides of the ball is what has made her such an indispensable part of this unit for so long, and this year was no different. With four years of experience as a starter, she always seems to grasp the moment and understands how to influence a match in a positive way."
 
This year, Serrano was named the ASUN's defensive player of the week on Nov. 4, tallied 11 matches with at least four blocks, including 24 over the regular season's final four matches to help FGCU clinch an outright ASUN title. She has five matches with at least 10 kills, hit a season-high .733 with 12 kills over 15 attempts against North Florida on Nov. 3 and had 16 matches with at least 10 attacks and a .300 hitting percentage. Overall, her .315 hitting percentage is seventh-best among all players in the ASUN, and she leads the conference in total blocks, while ranking 89th nationally.
 
SNOWY BURNAM
SECOND TEAM ALL-ASUN
 
Burnam (Palm City, Fla./Jensen Beach HS), a junior outside hitter who also serves as a backup setter, has totaled 64 blocks this year, which is 18th among all players in the conference. She had seven matches with at least 10 kills, including 11 in three of the final five matches of the regular season. She had two double-doubles on the season and six double-digit performances, led by a season-high 17 in a big early season win over San Diego State.
 
"Snowy is a player who seems to get better every time she is out on the court," Botsford said. "Whether it is a practice or a match, you can see her processing the experience and how it influences her performance the next time out. This season she has made major strides as a blocker to complement a quality offensive game that really helps to free up some of our other hitters. Snowy is also one of our top point scorers from the service line along with being a very effective primary passer. She really does it all for us and helps to stabilize every phase of the game for this team."
 
CHELSEY LOCKEY
SECOND TEAM ALL-ASUN
 
Lockey (Eaton, Colo./Eaton HS), a sophomore setter who produced seven double-doubles on the season, had 30 or more assists all but two matches (at least 20 in each one) and 40 or more assists 10 times, including a career-high 54 twice in wins over San Diego State and UCF. She led an offense that finished 29th in the nation in hitting percentage and became one of four players to produce at least one 1,000 assist season. She is a versatile player who had 215 digs (2.17/set), hit .299 with 55 kills, added 55 blocks (fourth on the team) and tallied 26 aces (second on the team). She also had two matches with at least 30 assists, five kills, five digs and two blocks.
 
"I can't say enough about the job Chelsey has done this year," Botsford said. "I saw how hard she worked last spring and how committed she was to really embracing her role as our setter, but even then I expected it to take a bit more time. She showed early this season that she was ready and there was very little adjustment required before the offense became hers. She has played with a lot of poise for a sophomore in that position. Chelsey's consistency and creativity have been huge factors in our success."
 
MATT BOTSFORD
ASUN COACH OF THE YEAR
 
Botsford captured his second straight ASUN Coach of the Year honor after leading the Eagles to a second straight regular season title. FGCU went 26-4 in the regular season, establishing a new program record for regular season victories. Now in his sixth season, Botsford has compiled a 142-49 record, including a 71-17 mark in conference play.
 
2019 ASUN Volleyball Postseason All-Conference Honors and Awards
Player of the Year: Cortney VanLiew (FGCU)
*Defensive Player of the Year: Dana Axner (FGCU)
Setter of the Year: Lexi Broadwater (Kennesaw State)
Freshman of the Year: Erin Shomaker (FGCU)
Coach of the Year: Matt Botsford (FGCU)
*Unanimous selection
 
ASUN First Team All-Conference
*OH - Cortney VanLiew (FGCU)
*L - Dana Axner (FGCU)
*OH - Lauren Chastang (Kennesaw State)
S - Lexi Broadwater (Kennesaw State)
MB - Quinn Sutphin (Kennesaw State)
MB - Anna Gragg (Liberty)
OH - Amelia Johnson (Liberty)
*Unanimous selection
 
ASUN Second Team All-Conference
OH - Snowy Burnam (FGCU)
MB - Daniele Serrano (FGCU)
S - Chelsey Lockey (FGCU)
L/DS - Karlee Groover (Kennesaw State)
RS - Casey Goodwin (Liberty)
OH - Megan Kuper (Lipscomb)
OH - Solimar Cestero (North Florida)
 
ASUN All-Freshmen Team
*OH - Erin Shomaker (FGCU)
*MB - Sydney Bolding (Jacksonville)
*OH - Elena Djokovic (Stetson)
RS - Emma Schurfranz (Kennesaw State)
S - Julianna Askew (North Florida)
DS - Rocio Moro (North Florida)
MB - Kaylee Oscarson (Stetson)
*Unanimous selection
 
2019 ASUN Conference Volleyball All-Academic Team
 
Scholar-Athlete of the Year: Amelia Johnson, Liberty
 
2019 ASUN Conference All-Academic Team
Amelia Johnson - 4.00 GPA - Liberty - Jr. - Roseau, Minn. - Interdisciplinary Studies
*#Cortney VanLiew - 3.90 GPA - FGCU - Jr.  - Seymour, Ind. - Accounting
*^Morgan Elmore - 3.86 GPA - Lipscomb - Sr. - Louisville, Ky. - Dietitics
#Natalie Wehner - 3.94 GPA - Jacksonville - Sr. - Lake Orion, Mich. - Nursing
Karlee Groover - 3.95 GPA - Kennesaw State - Jr. - Newnan, Ga. - Nursing
#Hannah Morris - 3.96 GPA - Liberty - Jr. - Lynchburg, Va. - Exercise Science
Olivia Welsch - 4.00 GPA - NJIT - Sr. - Stillwater, Minn. - Business Mgmt. Info. Systems
* denotes a unanimous selection to the all-academic team
# denotes a two-time selection to the all-academic team
^ denotes a three-time selection to the all-academic team
 
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 141-49 (.742) record overall, including a 71-17 (.807) record in ASUN play. Including this 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 five straight seasons and at least 10 wins in conference play six 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 and now the team has won two straight regular season titles. 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. Last year, he led the team to a win over Miami (Fla.) - the program's first-ever road Power-5 win, and the Eagles followed that up with a straight-set win over the Hurricanes at a neutral site in 2019.
 
#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 80 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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