JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - The No. 2 pair of Karissa Rhoades and Katherine Puisis won both matchups on the day, but the FGCU beach volleyball team (10-9, 0-4 ASUN) dropped a pair of 3-2 matches to North Florida (19-12, 6-2) on the road this afternoon.

"We had two extremely competitive matches," FGCU head coach Matt Botsford said. "I was really pleased with the performances of all our pairs. Katie and Karissa did a great job, and we were getting to a lot of third sets. We just have to find a way to close it out."

The Eagles will look to bounce back with a pair of doubleheaders against Mercer (7-4, 2-4) and Jacksonville (1-9, 0-6) on Friday and Saturday, respectively. Following that, the team will await its postseason fate from the ASUN tournament selection committee.

Rhoades (Valrico, Fla./Bloomingdale Senior HS) and Puisis (Mason, Ohio/William Mason HS) won a pair of thrilling, three-set matches via 15-13 and 15-12 third-set victories over UNF's Antonia Harrison and Jessi Freeman. In doing so, the duo improved to 13-6 on the season and Puisis joined her partner as one of only two players in program history to achieve 50 career wins.

Career Wins Leaders
54 - Karissa Rhoades, 2016-present
50 - Katherine Puisis, 2016-present
46 - Madi Wilcox, 2014-17
43 - Amanda Carroll, 2016-present
38 - Mackenzie Allen, 2015-18
38 - Ashley Glickert, 2015-18
37 - Giovanna Borgiotti, 2017-present
 
The No. 3 pair of Snowy Burnam and Kayla Whetstone took a 16-14 third set in the opener over UNF's Nicole DeBolt and Madilyn McCarty. Despite a loss in the finale, the pair is now a team-best 15-4 this year, which puts them three victories shy of breaking the single-season wins record set last year by Puisis and Rhoades.

Single Season Wins Leaders
17 - Katherine Puisis - 2018 (17-8 .680)
17 - Karissa Rhoades - 2018 (17-8 .680)
16 - Giovanna Borgiotti - 2018 (16-9 .640)
16 - Ashley Glickert - 2018 (16-9 .640)
16 - Snowy Burnam - 2018 (16-10 .615)
16 - Kayla Whetstone - 2018 (16-10 .615)
15 - Kayla Whetstone - 2019 (15-4 .789)
15 - Snowy Burnam - 2019 (15-4 .789)
15 - Elisa Anne Aldrich - 2016 (15-4 .789)
15 - Madi Wilcox - 2016 (15-4 .789)
15 - Karissa Rhoades - 2017 (15-9 .625)
15 - Katherine Puisis - 2017 (15-9 .625)

Amanda Carroll and Kirstine Garder bounced back from a loss in today's first match to claim a hard-fought 22-20, 15-21, 15-11 victory in the finale. Carroll (Albuquerque, N.M./Sandia HS) is now three victories shy of matching Madi Wilcox (46, 2014-17) for the third-most career victories, while Garder (Halden, Norway/Topvolley Norge) won her 11th match on the season, which puts her five short of matching the freshman wins record established by Burnam and Whetstone last year.

Updated ASUN Standings
North Division
Stetson - 23-8, 8-0
North Florida - 19-12, 6-2
Mercer - 7-4, 2-4
FGCU - 10-9, 0-4
Jacksonville - 1-9, 0-6

South Division
Coastal Carolina - 15-9, 4-0
North Alabama - 9-7, 3-1
Morehead State - 13-6, 3-3
Austin Peay - 12-12, 4-4
Jacksonville State - 3-11, 0-6
 
Upcoming ASUN Schedule
Friday
Coastal Carolina @ Jacksonville State (DH)
FGCU vs Mercer in Jacksonville (DH)

Saturday
FGCU @ Jacksonville (DH)
Morehead State @ North Alabama (DH)

RESULTS
North Florida 3, FGCU 2
1. Pase/Howard (UNF) d. Garder/Carroll 21-14, 21-16
2. Rhoades/Puisis (FGCU) d. Harrison/Freeman 22-20, 19-21, 15-13
3. Burnam/Whetstone (FGCU) d. DeBolt/McCarty 21-10, 16-21, 16-14
4. Roskic/Workman (UNF) d. Lacour/Borgiotti 17-21, 21-19, 15-13
5. Smith/Galinis (UNF) d. VanLiew/Ryan 21-18, 21-15

North Florida 3, FGCU 2
1. Carroll/Garder (FGCU) d. Pase/Howard 22-20, 15-21, 15-11
2. Puisis/Rhoades (FGCU) d. Harrison/Freeman 21-14, 16-21, 15-12
3. DeBolt/McCarty (UNF) d. Burnam/Whetstone 21-12, 21-17
4. Roskic/Workman (UNF) d. Borgiotti/Lacour 17-21, 21-18, 15-10
5. Galinis/Smith (UNF) d. VanLiew/Ryan 21-18, 19-21, 15-13
 
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 52-36 record over the past three-plus seasons (58-65 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 69-80. 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.

#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.