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axner sunshine classic 09-20-19
Brad Young
3
Winner FGCU FGCU 8-2
0
Miami MIAMI 2-4
Winner
FGCU FGCU
8-2
3
Final
0
Miami MIAMI
2-4
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 F
FGCU FGCU 25 25 25 (3)
Miami MIAMI 13 16 23 (0)
3
Winner FGCU FGCU 9-2
1
UCF UCF 6-4
Winner
FGCU FGCU
9-2
3
Final
1
UCF UCF
6-4
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 4 F
FGCU FGCU 24 25 25 25 (3)
UCF UCF 26 19 21 22 (1)

Next Match:

vs. Florida Atlantic

9/21/2019 | 1:30 PM

Next Match

Full Schedule
Sep. 21 (Sat) / 1:30 PM
vs. Florida Atlantic
History

Game Recap: Volleyball | | Nicholas Huenefeld (@niklaustradamus)

@FGCU_VB knocks off Miami, UCF to open Sunshine State Classic

Story Links

ORLANDO, Fla. - The FGCU volleyball team (9-2) defeated Miami (25-13, 25-16, 25-23) and UCF (24-26, 25-19, 25-21, 25-22) to open the Sunshine State Classic on Friday at The Venue at UCF.
 
The Eagles will close out the event on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. against Florida Atlantic.
 
"It was an amazing team effort today against two quality opponents," FGCU head coach Matt Botsford said. "Our serving was a big factor, and I thought our floor defense was spectacular. We played very consistent throughout, which was a great sign of the progress being made by this group."
 
Offensive leaders on the day included Cortney VanLiew (30 kills, 18 digs), Erin Shomaker (20 kills), Snowy Burnam (19 kills, 16 digs) and Daniele Serrano (17 kills, eight blocks.). Chelsey Lockey recorded 94 assists, while Dana Axner had 36 digs combined. Six different players had at least three blocks, as well.
 
The nightcap featured a rematch of last year's NCAA Tournament first round matchup in which FGCU upset UCF in five sets.
 
The Eagles dropped a back-and-forth opening set after failing to capitalize on match point. Neither team led by more than two in the frame. After the Eagles opened up a 9-5 lead in the next set, UCF rallied to knot things at 16 apiece, but Amanda Carroll (Albuquerque, N.M./Sandia HS) produced a solo block and a pair of kills to spur a 4-0 run. Burnam (Palm City, Fla./Jensen Beach HS) then evened up the match with a tip shot kill.
 
UCF held a 16-13 lead in the third set, but FGCU scored six straight behind a kill and a solo block from Aja Jones. Back-to-back kills from VanLiew (Seymour, Ind./Columbus East HS) then finished off a 25-21 set win.
 
Behind several big plays from Serrano (Sanford, Fla./Seminole HS), the Eagles then maintained control in the fourth before claiming a 25-22 clincher on a double block from Jones (Venice, Fla./Venice HS) and Burnam.
 
"Aja brought a ton of energy into the UCF match and was a big factor in the result," Botsford said. "She played well beyond her years and came up with some key plays."
 
Lockey (Eaton, Colo./Eaton HS) tied her career-high with 54 assists while adding eight digs and three block assists. VanLiew had a team-high 18 kills, while Serrano added 11 and Burnam had 10. Axner (Dublin, Ohio/Dublin Coffman HS) had a match-high 26 digs, while VanLiew and Burnam each finished double-doubles with 12 and 10 digs, respectively.
 
"Chelsey just keeps getting better every time we hit the floor and our offensive balance was good all day," Botsford said.
 
In the opener against Miami, FGCU produced its second consecutive sweep of the Hurricanes in as many seasons behind 12 kills apiece from VanLiew and Shomaker (Granville, Ohio/Granville HS). Lockey led the way with 40 assists, while Axner had 10 digs. Serrano also contributed a team-high five blocks.
 
The Green and Blue maintained control throughout the match until the final set when the Hurricanes held a 21-15 lead, but FGCU ultimately rallied.
 
NOTES
Serrano now has 398.0 career blocks, surpassing Kylie Jacob (Jacksonville, 2010-13) and Sara Jacobson (Belmont, 2002-05) for seventh place on the ASUN's career list. Next up is Brittany Rusin (Campbell, 2003-06) with 399.0 and Ellen Hawks (Stetson, 2010-13) with 400.0.
 
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 125-47 (.727) 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

Dana Axner

#7 Dana Axner

L
5' 8"
Sophomore
Snowy Burnam

#8 Snowy Burnam

OH/S
5' 11"
Junior
Amanda Carroll

#14 Amanda Carroll

OH
5' 10"
Redshirt Senior
Chelsey Lockey

#10 Chelsey Lockey

S
5' 9"
Sophomore
Daniele Serrano

#3 Daniele Serrano

MB
6' 1"
Senior
Cortney VanLiew

#12 Cortney VanLiew

OH
5' 11"
Junior
Aja Jones

#1 Aja Jones

MB
6' 1"
Freshman
Erin Shomaker

#6 Erin Shomaker

OH
6' 2"
Freshman

Players Mentioned

Dana Axner

#7 Dana Axner

5' 8"
Sophomore
L
Snowy Burnam

#8 Snowy Burnam

5' 11"
Junior
OH/S
Amanda Carroll

#14 Amanda Carroll

5' 10"
Redshirt Senior
OH
Chelsey Lockey

#10 Chelsey Lockey

5' 9"
Sophomore
S
Daniele Serrano

#3 Daniele Serrano

6' 1"
Senior
MB
Cortney VanLiew

#12 Cortney VanLiew

5' 11"
Junior
OH
Aja Jones

#1 Aja Jones

6' 1"
Freshman
MB
Erin Shomaker

#6 Erin Shomaker

6' 2"
Freshman
OH