Beach Volleyball 7/23/2019 11:56:00 AM Nicholas Huenefeld (@niklaustradamus)

FGCU's indoor, beach programs win AVCA's Team Academic Award

Lexington, Ky. --- The American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) presented the FGCU indoor and beach volleyball programs with the AVCA Team Academic Award on Monday.

"Academic success has always been at the core of our culture here at FGCU, so seeing both our beach and indoor teams being recognized for those accomplishments is very satisfying," FGCU head coach Matt Botsford said. "Our players take a lot of pride in the work they do in the classroom, and I'm so proud of them for continuing to maintain such a high standard of achievement."

The indoor program compiled a 3.52 cumulative GPA this past year, including a 3.50 GPA in the spring semester. The beach squad registered a program-record 3.65 cumulative GPA - highlighted by a 3.57 spring semester GPA, which was the third-highest term GPA in program history.

Alayna Ryan (fall, spring), Snowy Burnam (spring), Dana Axner (spring), Maggie Rick (spring) and Amanda Carroll (fall) each earned a 4.0 GPA in one of the two semesters this past year, which put them on the President's List. In fact, a combined 17 student-athletes from both the indoor and beach programs made at least the ADs Honor Roll in either the fall or spring semester.

President's List (4.0 GPA)
Dana Axner (spring)
Snowy Burnam (spring)
Maggie Rick (spring)
Alayna Ryan (fall, spring)
Amanda Carroll (fall)

Dean's List (3.5 GPA or above)
Camryn Bossinas (fall, spring)
Katherine Puisis (spring)
Kayla Whetstone (fall, spring)
Dana Axner (fall, spring)
Giovanna Borgiotti (spring)
Snowy Burnam (fall, spring)
Amanda Carroll (fall, spring)
Chelsey Lockey (fall, spring)
Maggie Rick (fall, spring)
Alayna Ryan (fall, spring)
Cortney VanLiew (fall, spring)
Daniele Serrano (fall)
Candace Lacour (fall)

ADs Honor Roll (3.0 GPA and above)
Camryn Bossinas (fall, spring)
Emma Hansen (spring)
Katherine Puisis (spring)
Kayla Whetstone (fall, spring)
Candace Lacour (fall)
Dana Axner (fall, spring)
Giovanna Borgiotti (fall, spring)
Snowy Burnam (fall, spring)
Amanda Carroll (fall, spring)
Kirstine Garder (fall, spring)
Kaitlan Krivdo (fall, spring)
Chelsey Lockey (fall, spring)
Karissa Rhoades (spring)
Maggie Rick (fall, spring)
Alayna Ryan (fall, spring)
Cortney VanLiew (fall, spring)
Daniele Serrano (fall)

FGCU was one of 189 schools to receive the award at the Division I level on the indoor side and one of only 41 beach programs. It's the fourth all-time award for indoor (2012, 2013, 2018, 2019) and the second for the beach program (2017, 2019).

Also, speaking to the quality of student-athletes within the ASUN, seven of the conference's nine indoor programs won the award, while eight of the 10 beach teams also earned it.

The award, which was initiated in the 1992-93 academic year, honors collegiate and high school volleyball teams that displayed excellence in the classroom during the school year by maintaining at least a 3.30 cumulative team grade-point average on a 4.0 scale or a 4.10 cumulative team GPA on a 5.0 scale.

2019 Volleyball Promo Schedule
Aug. 30 vs Akron - 2018 ASUN championship celebration (white out)
Aug. 31 vs Bryant - Free Dunkin' Donuts while supplies last (blue out)
Aug. 31 vs San Diego State - Stars and Stripes Night (blue out)
Sept. 27 vs North Alabama - Free post-match pizza (blue out)
Sept. 29 vs Lipscomb - Azul's Peeps Kickoff Party and Family Day (white out)
Oct. 11 vs Jacksonville - Cancer Awareness Night (pink out)
Oct. 13 vs Kennesaw State - Beach Bash in The Nest (white out)
Oct. 19 vs NJIT - Alumni Night
Oct. 22 vs Bethune-Cookman - Eagles Bingo Night
Oct. 29 vs Liberty - Eagles Dig Halloween Night, costume contest and free candy (green out)
Nov. 1 vs Stetson - Senior Night
Nov. 3 vs North Florida - We are FGCU Day (green out)

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 116-45 (.720) record overall, including a 57-15 (.792) 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.

--FGCUATHLETICS.COM--

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Players Mentioned

#22 Kaitlan Krivdo: 6' 0"; Junior

#5 Maggie Rick: S; 5' 10"; Senior

#13 Snowy Burnam: 5' 11"; Sophomore

#14 Amanda Carroll: 5' 10"; Senior

#3 Katherine Puisis: 5' 11"; Senior

#1 Karissa Rhoades: 5' 11"; Senior

#12 Cortney VanLiew: 5' 11"; Sophomore

#4 Kayla Whetstone: 5' 8"; Sophomore

#5 Kirstine Garder: 5' 10"; Freshman

#32 Emma Hansen: 5' 7"; Freshman

#21 Camryn Bossinas: 5' 7"; Freshman

#20 Candace Lacour: 5' 7"; Redshirt Sophomore

Players Mentioned

#22 Kaitlan Krivdo
: 6' 0"; Junior

#5 Maggie Rick
: 5' 10"; Senior
: S

#13 Snowy Burnam
: 5' 11"; Sophomore

#14 Amanda Carroll
: 5' 10"; Senior

#3 Katherine Puisis
: 5' 11"; Senior

#1 Karissa Rhoades
: 5' 11"; Senior

#12 Cortney VanLiew
: 5' 11"; Sophomore

#4 Kayla Whetstone
: 5' 8"; Sophomore

#5 Kirstine Garder
: 5' 10"; Freshman

#32 Emma Hansen
: 5' 7"; Freshman

#21 Camryn Bossinas
: 5' 7"; Freshman

#20 Candace Lacour
: 5' 7"; Redshirt Sophomore