PREVIEW: Sunshine State Classic on tap for @FGCU_VB this weekend

Sunshine State Classic
vs Miami	10 a.m. \| Friday \| Live Stats
vs UCF	7 p.m. \| Friday \| Video (UCFKnights.tv) \| Live Stats \| Tickets
vs Florida Atlantic	1:30 p.m. \| Saturday \| Live Stats
Location	Orlando, Fla. \| The Venue at UCF
Twitter	@FGCU_VB
Instagram	@FGCU_VB
Facebook	FGCU Volleyball

Orlando, Fla. - The FGCU volleyball team (7-2) will head a bit north for the Sunshine State Classic on Friday and Saturday, which will include tough matchups against UCF (6-3), Miami (2-3) and Florida Atlantic (6-2). The event is being hosted at The Venue at UCF.

The event, which was hosted by Miami last year, is in its third year of existence with the same four teams. FGCU went 0-3 in 2017, but bounced back to finish 2-1 last year while knocking off Miami on its home court for the program's first-ever road Power 5 win.

The Contestants
All four teams finished within the top 80 of last year's final RPI - UCF (10th), FGCU (47th), FAU (75th) and Miami (79th).

UCF will enter the this year's event at 6-3 overall, coming off a weekend in which they upset No. 14 Illinois in four sets and fell to No. 7 Marquette in five. Those performances helped them receive votes in the latest AVCA poll for the fourth straight week, and they'll be looking to avenge last year's five-set loss to FGCU in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament that also ended their 24-match winning streak. They'll be led by sophomore McKenna Melville, who has 144 kills, 101 digs and 16 blocks over 36 sets.

Miami, who went 13-12 overall last year, is off to a 2-3 start this season with losses to TCU, Auburn and Missouri. The Hurricanes will be led by freshman outside hitter Kennedy Prince, who has at least 14 kills in every match along with 36 total digs through five matches. Head coach Jose "Keno" Gandara recorded his 100th career win at Miami in last year's event.

Florida Atlantic, which enters at 6-2 overall and is coached by former FGCU assistant Fernanda Nelson, is 3-3 against the Eagles since Nelson took over in 2012. FGCU won in straight sets last year's meeting. The Owls, who went 21-7 last year, have taken then No. 22 Florida State to five sets this year and knocked off TCU on the road in five. They also have another strong win over Boston College in four sets. One of their top players will be junior outside hitter Sydney Nemtuda, who has team-highs in kills (80) and digs (94) along with eight aces and seven blocks.

FGCU Notables
The Eagles, who had a Division I era program-best 6-0 start to the season before falling to No. 15 Kentucky and Indiana this past weekend, also had their 19-match regular season winning streak come to an end in the Bluegrass Battle, although Dana Axner was named to the all-tournament team.

FGCU has been well-represented so far this year among the ASUN's weekly awards. Cortney VanLiew (Seymour, Ind./Columbus East HS) and Axner (Dublin, Ohio/Dublin Coffman HS) were named the player and defensive player of the week, respectively, on Sept. 3. Erin Shomaker (Granville, Ohio/Granville, Ohio) was named the top freshman a week later, and Tori Morris (Virginia Beach, Va./Floyd E. Kellam HS) was the defensive player of the week this week.

ASUN Leaders (Top 10)
Kills - VanLiew (3rd, 135)
Kills/Set - VanLiew (2nd, 4.22)
Hitting Percentage - Shomaker (8th, .292)
Assists - Lockey (3rd, 340)
Assists/Set - Lockey (3rd, 10.63)
Aces - VanLiew (T-9th, 9)
Digs - Axner (4th, 152)
Digs/Set - Axner (T-1st, 4.75)
Solo Blocks - Morris (T-4th, 5), Serrano/Shomaker/VanLiew (T-8th, 4)
Block Assists - Morris (3rd, 32), Serrano (T-10th, 23)
Total Blocks - Morris (3rd, 37), Serrano (T-8th, 27)
Blocks/Set - Morris (4th, 1.32), Serrano (9th, 0.93)
Points - VanLiew (3rd, 154.0)
Points/Set - VanLiew (T-1st, 4.8)

Road Trippin'
This weekend is nearly the end of what is a three-week stretch on the road for FGCU. After this weekend, they'll begin conference play on the road at Liberty Sept. 24 before finally returning home against North Alabama on Sept. 27 in what will be the Green and Blue's first home match since Aug. 31.

Notes
For those traveling to Orlando this weekend, Friday night's match against UCF will feature free chips and queso while supplies last as part of National Queso Day.

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

Kills
1. 1,412 - Amanda Carroll (.256) - 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. 925 - Cortney VanLiew (.229) - 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. 3,654 - Amanda Carroll (1412-475-3654) - 2015-present
2. 2,725 - Jessica BARNES (961-433-2725) - 2010-11,13-14
3. 2,594 - Cortney VanLiew (925-332-2594) - 2017- present
4. 2,449 - Kaitlin HOLM (926-371-2449) - 2011-13
5. 2,356 - Olivia MESNER (1132-353-2356) - 2011-14
6. 1889 - Jill HOPPER (725-342-1889) - 2011-13
7. 1846 - Jelena SIMIC (649-269-1846) - 2009,11
8. 1808 - Eleonora KAZARIAN (693-287-1808) - 2014-15
9. 1574 - Ana KOKANOVIC (678-236-1574) - 2007-08
10. 1550 - Daniele Serrano (675-157-1550) - 2016-19

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. 1,065 - Amanda Carroll (375 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. 776 - Dana Axner (152 sets) - 2018-present
9. 681 - Vanessa BENKE (164 sets) - 2013-15
10. 615 - Jelena SIMIC (215 sets) - 2009,11
11. 605 - Cortney VanLiew (258 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. 816 - Chelsey Lockey (142 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. 157 - Dana Axner (152 sets) - 2018-present

Solo Blocks
1. 62 - Olivia MESNER (428 sets) - 2011-14
2. 58 - Daniele Serrano  (369 sets) - 2016-present
3. 41 - Ashley YANCE (296 sets) - 2007-09
    41 - Amanda Carroll (375 sets) - 2015- present
5. 38 - Kaitlin HOLM (359 sets) - 2011-13

Block assists
1. 332 - Daniele Serrano  (369 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 - Amanda Carroll (375 sets) - 2015-present
    153 - Eleonora KAZARIAN (213 sets) - 2014-15
9. 152 - Sharonda PICKERING (168 sets) - 2017-18

Total blocks
1. 390 - Daniele Serrano  (369 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. 194 - Amanda Carroll (375 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. 1.06 - Daniele Serrano  (369 sets) - 2016-present
2. 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. 1,636.5 - Amanda Carroll (1412k 107a 41-153b) - 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. 1,034.5 - Cortney VanLiew (925k 53a 19-75b) - 2017-present
6. 901.0 - Daniele Serrano  (675k 2a 58-332b) - 2016-present
7. 877.5 - Jill HOPPER (725k 88a 18-93b) - 2011-13
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. 107 - Amanda Carroll - 2015-present
    107 - 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) - 1,412
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) - 399.0
7. Kylie Jacob (Jacksonville, 2010-13) - 392.0
    Sara Jacobson (Belmont, 2002-05) - 392.0
9. Daniele Serrano (FGCU) - 390.0
10. Alex Kelly (Lipscomb, 2007-10) - 380.0

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 123-47 (.724) 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