Volleyball 9/11/2019 4:30:00 PM Nicholas Huenefeld (@niklaustradamus)

PREVIEW: Big opportunity looms for @FGCU_VB this weekend

Bluegrass Battle
vs Indiana	10 a.m. \| Friday \| Audio \| Live Stats
vs No. 15 Kentucky	8:30 p.m. \| Friday \| Video (SEC/ESPN+) Live Stats \| Tickets
vs Cleveland State	1 p.m. \| Saturday \| Live Stats
Location	Lexington, Ky. \| Memorial Coliseum
Tickets	Free except for FGCU vs Kentucky, link above
Twitter	@FGCU_VB
Instagram	@FGCU_VB
Facebook	FGCU Volleyball

Lexington, Ky. - The FGCU volleyball team (6-0) will look to continue the best start in program history with matchups against Indiana, No. 15 Kentucky and Cleveland State this weekend in the Bluegrass Battle hosted by the University of Kentucky.

The Eagles already have the best start to a Division I campaign in program history, and they've tied the Division II era 2004 team for the best undefeated start to a season.

Furthermore, FGCU is one of only 23 teams across the nation that remain undefeated, and they are currently riding a 19-match regular season winning streak that stretches back to Oct. 7 of last year.

Notables
FGCU is coming off wins over USF, Auburn and George Washington in this past weekend's Hurricane Invitational. While there was no all-tournament team, it can be argued that several players would have been in contention from the Eagles:
- Cortney VanLiew, who had at least 13 kills and a .345 hitting percentage in each match, including 18 kills at a .471 clip against Auburn and a double-double (13 kills, 10 digs) against George Washington.
- Dana Axner, who increased her stretch of double-digit dig performances to open the season to six. She had 17 in the team's win over Auburn, which was her third-highest match total of the season. On top of that, she has at least five assists in each of the past four outings.
- Chelsey Lockey, who averaged 34 assists over the three matches while producing her second double-double (37 assists, 13 digs) of the season in the win over USF.
- Tori Morris, who averaged four blocks per match over the three matches. She added a season-high nine kills against USF.

Top Frosh
Erin Shomaker, who had 15 total kills in wins over USF and Auburn, was named the ASUN's freshman of the week on Monday. She had eight kills over 11 attempts (.727) against USF and seven kills in 12 attempts vs Auburn (.583). She also totaled two digs and four blocks (two solo) on the week. Overall, Shomaker (Granville, Ohio/Granville HS) is hitting .375 with 40 kills, 12 blocks and 10 digs this year, and she has at least seven kills in five of six matches.

ASUN Leaders (Top 10)
Kills - VanLiew (3rd, 96)
Kills/Set - VanLiew (2nd, 4.57)
Hitting Percentage - Shomaker (4th, .375), Serrano (7th, .314), VanLiew (9th, .299)
Assists - Lockey (3rd, 237)
Assists/Set - Lockey (2nd, 11.29)
Aces - VanLiew (T-6th, 8), Burnam/Carroll (T-10th, 6)
Digs - Axner (4th, 109)
Digs/Set - Axner (2nd, 5.19)
Solo Blocks - Shomaker (T-2nd, 4), Serrano/VanLiew (T-5th, 3), Morris (T-10th, 2)
Block Assists - Morris (T-5th, 20)
Total Blocks - Morris (T-6th, 22)
Blocks/Set - Morris (4th, 1.29)
Points - VanLiew (3rd, 110.5)
Points/Set - VanLiew (1st, 5.3)

Opponent History
FGCU, who picked up its first-ever win over a Power 5 school with a five-set decision over Indiana on Sept. 10, 2016, is 1-1 all-time against the Hoosiers. This will be the program's first-ever matchups against Kentucky and Cleveland State.

Power 5 History
The Eagles, who are 1-0 against Power 5 teams this year after last weekend's sweep of Auburn, has three more such matchups over the next two weekends - Indiana, Kentucky and Miami (Sept. 20). In addition to the aforementioned win over Indiana in 2016, FGCU has also knocked off Power 5 schools Miami and Auburn over the past two seasons.

Against Ranked Teams History
In the opening round of last year's NCAA Tournament, the Green and Blue produced its first-ever win over a ranked opponent with a five-set decision over No. 21 UCF. Friday night's tilt against No. 15 Kentucky will represent FGCU's 15th all-time meeting against a ranked team at the Division I level.

Road Trippin'
This weekend is the middle of what is a three-week stretch on the road for FGCU. They'll close out the major portion of their non-conference slate in Orlando against Miami, UCF and FAU Sept. 20-21. Conference play then begins on the road at Liberty Sept. 24 before the Green and Blue hosts North Alabama on Sept. 27.

Notes
For those traveling to Lexington this weekend, there will be no admission fee for all matches except when FGCU plays Kentucky on Friday night. Furthermore, Memorial Coliseum has no air conditioning and temperatures are expected to rise to around 95 degrees. Traffic will also be heavy in Lexington over the weekend due to a 7 p.m. home football game against Florida on Saturday night.

CAREER RECORD BOOK (DIVISION I ERA, 2007-PRESENT)

Kills
1. 1,408 - Amanda Carroll (.258) - 2015-present
2. 1,132 - Olivia MESNER (.331) - 2011-14
3. 961 - Jessica BARNES (.194) - 2010-11,13-14
4. 926 - Kaitlin HOLM (.227) - 2011-13
5. 886 - Cortney VanLiew (.232) - 2017- present
6. 725 - Jill HOPPER (.203) - 2011-13
7. 693 - Eleonora KAZARIAN (.225) - 2014-15
8. 678 - Ana KOKANOVIC (.281) - 2007-08
9. 658 - Daniele Serrano (.345) - 2016- present
10. 649 - Jelena SIMIC (.206) - 2009,11

Attack attempts
1. 3,620 - Amanda Carroll (1408-473-3620) - 2015-present
2. 2,725 - Jessica BARNES (961-433-2725) - 2010-11,13-14
3. 2,471 - Cortney VanLiew (886-312-2471) - 2017- present
4. 2,449 - Kaitlin HOLM (926-371-2449) - 2011-13
5. 2,356 - Olivia MESNER (1132-353-2356) - 2011-14

Digs
1. 1,687 - Whitney MASTERS (483 sets) - 2011-14
2. 1,652 - Holly YOUNGQUIST (418 sets) - 2008-11
3. 1,084 - Courtney STEPHENS (451 sets) - 2014-17
4. 1,037 - Amanda Carroll (364 sets) - 2015-present
5. 947 - Gigi MEYER (474 sets) - 2011-14
6. 877 - Karissa RHOADES (379 sets) - 2015-18
7. 823 - Maggie RICK (467 sets) - 2015-18
8. 733 - Dana Axner (141 sets) - 2018-present
9. 681 - Vanessa BENKE (164 sets) - 2013-15
10. 615 - Jelena SIMIC (215 sets) - 2009,11
11. 603 - Christine PINDER (202 sets) - 2012-13
12. 577 - Cortney VanLiew (247 sets) - 2017- present

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. 1,089 - Camil DOMINGUEZ (164 sets) - 2010-11
6. 713 - Chelsey Lockey (131 sets) - 2018-present
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. 175 - Courtney STEPHENS (451 sets) - 2014-17
11. 150 - Dana Axner (141 sets) - 2018-present

Solo Blocks
1. 62 - Olivia MESNER (428 sets) - 2011-14
2. 57 - Daniele Serrano (358 sets) - 2016- present
3. 41 - Ashley YANCE (296 sets) - 2007-09
4. 39 - Amanda Carroll (364 sets) - 2015- present
5. 38 - Kaitlin HOLM (359 sets) - 2011-13

Block assists
1. 320 - Daniele Serrano (358 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. 153 - Eleonora KAZARIAN (213 sets) - 2014-15
9. 152 - Sharonda PICKERING (168 sets) - 2017-18
10. 151 - Amanda Carroll (364 sets) - 2015-present

Total blocks
1. 377 - Daniele Serrano (358 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. 197 - Karina MAMBUCA (233 sets) - 2012-13
     197 - Marlene MOELLER (301 sets) - 2013-16
7. 190 - Amanda Carroll (364 sets) - 2015- present
8. 176 - Sharonda PICKERING (168 sets) - 2017-18
9. 170 - Lauren TUTWILER (208 sets) - 2014-15
10. 165 - Eleonora KAZARIAN (213 sets) - 2014-15

Blocks per set (min. 150 sets)
1. 1.05 - Daniele Serrano (358 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. 1,629.5 - Amanda Carroll (1408k 107a 39-151b) - 2015-present
2. 1,338.0 - Olivia MESNER (1132k 4a 62-280b) - 2011-14
3. 1,087.5 - Kaitlin HOLM (926k 40a 38-167b) - 2011-13
4. 1,045.5 - Jessica BARNES (961k 43a 13-57b) - 2010-11,13-1
5. 991.0 - Cortney VanLiew (886k 52a 18-70b) - 2017-present
6. 877.5 - Jill HOPPER (725k 88a 18-93b) - 2011-13
7. 877.0 - Daniele Serrano (658k 2a 57-320b) - 2016-present
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

Matches played
1. 131 - Maggie RICK - 2015-18
2. 126 - Gigi MEYER - 2011-14
    126 - Whitney MASTERS - 2011-14
    126 - Courtney STEPHENS - 2014-17
5. 123 - Karissa RHOADES - 2015-18
6. 119 - Caroline JORDAN - 2013-16
7. 114 - Olivia MESNER - 2011-14
8. 113 - Holly YOUNGQUIST - 2008-11
9. 104 - Amanda Carroll - 2015-present
    104 - Daniele Serrano - 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) - 1,408
10. Katie Plummer (Mercer, 2001-04) - 1,390

Total Blocks
1. Meredith Hardy (ETSU, 2010-13) - 474.0
2. Morgan Van Alstine (North Florida, 2013-16) - 435.0
3. Rachel Templin (Campbell, 2003-06) - 422.0
4. Danielle Neville (Jacksonville, 2002-05) - 408.0
5. Ellen Hawks (Stetson, 2010-13) - 400.0
6. Brittany Rusin (Campbell, 2003-06) - 99.0
7. Kylie Jacob (Jacksonville, 2010-13) - 392.0
    Sara Jacobson (Belmont, 2002-05) - 392.0
9. Alex Kelly (Lipscomb, 2007-10) - 380.0
10. Daniele Serrano (FGCU) - 377.0

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 122-45 (.731) 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

#7 Dana Axner: L; 5' 8"; Sophomore

#14 Amanda Carroll: OH; 5' 10"; Redshirt Senior

#10 Chelsey Lockey: S; 5' 9"; Sophomore

#22 Tori Morris: MB; 6' 0"; Sophomore

#3 Daniele Serrano: MB; 6' 1"; Senior

#12 Cortney VanLiew: OH; 5' 11"; Junior

#6 Erin Shomaker: OH; 6' 2"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#7 Dana Axner
: 5' 8"; Sophomore
: L

#14 Amanda Carroll
: 5' 10"; Redshirt Senior
: OH

#10 Chelsey Lockey
: 5' 9"; Sophomore
: S

#22 Tori Morris
: 6' 0"; Sophomore
: MB

#3 Daniele Serrano
: 6' 1"; Senior
: MB

#12 Cortney VanLiew
: 5' 11"; Junior
: OH

#6 Erin Shomaker
: 6' 2"; Freshman
: OH