WILMINGTON, N.C. - The FGCU beach volleyball team (4-4) will be on the road Saturday and Sunday at the Dig and Dive Beach Bash to compete against Coastal Carolina, UNC Wilmington, College of Charleston and Tusculum College.

SCHEDULE
Saturday - 10:30 a.m. vs Coastal Carolina and 4:30 p.m. vs UNC Wilmington
Sunday - 8:30 a.m. vs College of Charleston and 12:30 p.m. vs Tusculum College
 
STORYLINES
Karissa Rhoades is looking to become the program's all-time wins leader. The senior is currently 46-30 (.605) in her career, is tied with Madi Wilcox (46-32, .590) for the top spot in victories. Katherine Puisis (Mason, Ohio/William Mason HS), who teams with Rhoades (Valrico, Fla./Bloomingdale Senior HS), is also four wins away from tying Wilcox on the list.

The No. 3 tandem of Snowy Burnam (Palm City, Fla./Jensen Beach HS) and Kayla Whetstone (Arlington, Texas/Arlington Lamar HS) has opened the season with a team-best 6-2 record, while the duo of Cortney VanLiew (Seymour, Ind./Columbus East HS) and Emma Hansen (Trophy Club, Texas/Westlake Academy HS) are 3-0 together at the No. 5 spot.
 
SERIES HISTORY
Among the four opponents this weekend, FGCU has previously faced three of them - UNC Wilmington (0-1), Coastal Carolina (5-0) and College of Charleston (1-0).
 
OPPONENT CAPSULES
The College of Charleston (8-0) is off to an undefeated start to the season, which has earned them a spot in the receiving votes section of the latest AVCA national rankings. They defeated UNCW 4-1 in its season opener and knocked off North Florida 3-2 on March 2.
 
UNC Wilmington (4-5) enters having won two straight and three of its past four behind a solid performance in the Texas A&M Corpus Christi Tournament last weekend where they defeated Houston Baptist and No. 20 TCU while splitting with Texas A&M Corpus Christi.
 
Tusculum College (3-4) started the season 3-1, but has since lost three straight to Austin Peay, Southern Miss and Jacksonville State. They are also in action this afternoon at Coastal Carolina before beginning action in the Dig and Dive event.
 
Coastal Carolina (8-5) is a vastly improved team after a 1-15 record last year. Similar to FGCU, two of their losses are to ranked teams - No. 4 LSU and No. 10 South Carolina - and they have also defeated Eckerd and UT Martin to go along with a 3-2 win over Jacksonville on March 1.
 
LAST TIME OUT
The Green and Blue secured victories in two matches against Eckerd College on Wednesday while only dropping one pair.
 
NEXT UP
After this weekend, the Eagles will return home to open ASUN play with a pair of matches against No. 10 Stetson on Wednesday beginning at 2 p.m.
 
FOLLOW ALONG
For up-to-the minute information and a behind-the-scenes look at the FGCU beach volleyball program, follow on Twitter at @FGCU_BeachVB, on Facebook at /FGCUVolleyball and on Instagram at @FGCU_BeachVB.

COACH BOTSFORD 
Head coach Matt Botsford, who is also the head coach of the FGCU indoor volleyball program, is in his sixth season at the helm of the FGCU beach volleyball program in 2019. He has compiled a 45-32 record over the past three-plus seasons (51-61 overall) while improving or steadying the team's win total each season. In fact, he led the program to 11 wins in 2016, 15 in 2017 and 15 more in 2018 - all three of which either tied or set new records for most wins in a season. The beach volleyball program is in just its eighth season in 2019 and has an overall record of 60-76. Prior to his time in Southwest Florida, Botsford held successful stints as an assistant at Notre Dame, Miami, IUPUI, Indianapolis and most recently Colorado State. A former professional volleyball player, he is a 1998 graduate of Tri-State University (now Trine), where he earned a degree in Social Studies Education. He earned a master's degree in Business Administration from the University of Indianapolis.

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.

#FEEDFGCU
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 raise awareness.
 
ABOUT FGCU
FGCU teams have combined to win an incredible 75 conference regular season and tournament titles in just 11+ seasons at the Division-I level. Additionally, in just seven+ seasons of D-I postseason eligibility, the Eagles have had a combined 35 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 6th-place finish in the DI-AAA Learfield Directors' Cup and top-100 showing nationally, ahead of several Power-5 and FBS institutions. FGCU also collectively earned a record 3.35 GPA in the classroom in the Spring, 2018 and had an ASUN Conference and State of Florida best five teams earn the NCAA's Public Recognition Award for their Academic Progress Rate in their sport.  The Eagles also served an all-time high 7,200 volunteer hours – being recognized as one of two runners-up for the inaugural NACDA Community Service Award presented by the Fiesta Bowl.