ASUN powers FGCU, Liberty to open conference play Tuesday

Match Info
Opponent	Liberty Flames
When	Tuesday at 6 p.m.
Where	Lynchburg, Va. \| The Vines Center
Live Stats	here
Video (ESPN+)	here
Twitter	@FGCU_VB
Instagram	@FGCU_VB
Facebook	FGCU Volleyball

LYNCHBURG, Va.- The FGCU volleyball team (10-2) will open the ASUN portion of its schedule with a 6 p.m. tilt at Liberty (7-5) on Tuesday night in the Vines Center. The Eagles will be looking to defend their ASUN regular season and tournament titles.

Liberty will enter with a nine-match home winning streak, which is its longest since winning 15 straight from Oct. 14, 2011 through Sept. 3, 2013.

SUNSHINE CHAMPS
The Green and Blue will enter the matchup with its best start to a season since the 2016 team opened 16-2. FGCU is coming off three tough wins over Miami, UCF and Florida Atlantic this past weekend in the Sunshine State Classic. Cortney VanLiew was named the MVP of the event, while Dana Axner and Chelsey Lockey (Eaton, Colo./Eaton HS) also earned all-classic team recognition.

It was the second straight season the Eagles have swept the Hurricanes, and UCF entered the match hungry for revenge after getting upset by FGCU on their home court in the first round of the NCAA Tournament last year. They were also receiving votes in the latest AVCA poll and had recently defeated then No. 14 Illinois the previous weekend.

THE MATCHUP
The matchup will not only see FGCU go for its 12th consecutive regular season conference victory, but it represents just the fourth all-time tilt between the two programs as the Flames joined the ASUN last year. The Eagles are 3-0 in those meetings, but all of them were close. The Green and Blue pulled out a thrilling, five-set victory on the road in the first meeting of 2018 and the teams met in the ASUN semifinals.

GREEN AND BLUE NOTES
VanLiew (Seymour, Ind./Columbus East HS) was named the MVP of the Sunshine State Classic as she totaled 46 kills, a .330 hitting percentage, 24 digs and five blocks en route to her fifth career ASUN player of the week award. She averaged 4.60 kills and 2.40 digs per set while notching her 24th career double-double in Friday's win over UCF.

The junior outside hitter leads the team with 181 total kills and an ASUN-best 4.31 kills per set this year. She has also totaled 94 digs, 21 blocks and 11 aces. On top of that, VanLiew is now 29 kills shy of becoming just the third player in the program's Division I era with 1,000 in a career.

Daniele Serrano became the first player in program history to record at least 400 career blocks on Saturday. She now has 402 and also sits just six shy of tying Danielle Neville (Jacksonville, 2002-05) for fourth place on the ASUN's career list.

Furthermore, the senior middle blocker has 60 career solo blocks, which is three shy of passing Olivia Mesner (62, 2011-14) for the most in program history. She is also just 11 blocks short of surpassing Mesner's top spot for total career blocks in ASUN regular season play.

Serrano (Sanford, Fla./Seminole HS) is the only player in program history so far to average at least 1.00 career blocks per set in ASUN regular season play, and she needs one more kill to become the seventh player in the program's Division I era with 700 in a career.

ASUN All-Time Block Leaders
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. Daniele Serrano (FGCU, 2016-present) - 402.0

Staying with defense, Axner (Dublin, Ohio/Dublin Coffman HS) compiled 55 more digs this past weekend to push her career total to 831, which puts her 169 shy of becoming the seventh player in program history with at least 1,000. In fact, the sophomore libero needs just 47 more to surpass Karissa Rhoades (877, 2015-18) for sixth place on the Division I era list (2007-present).

Snowy Burnam (Palm City, Fla./Jensen Beach HS), a junior outside hitter, surpassed 500 career kills this past weekend, becoming the 17th player in the program's history to reach that mark. Among those people, five are on this year's team - Amanda Carroll (1st, 1,421), VanLiew (4th, 971), Serrano (10th, 699) and Giovanna Borgiotti (Vienna, Va./George C. Marshall HS) (16th, 523).

Carroll (Albuquerque, N.M./Sandia HS) sits at 535 career kills in conference play, which is second-most in program history, just 72 shy of Olivia Mesner (607, 2011-14) in the top spot. She would need to average 4.6 kills per match in conference play to seize the top spot. Additionally, she needs 53 more digs to become the fifth player in program history with at least 500 in ASUN regular season play.

LIBERTY NOTES
Liberty posted a 2-1 record at the Gators Invitational last weekend, picking up back-to-back five-set wins over Louisiana and 2018 Big Sky champion Northern Arizona. Florida transfer Macy Phillips, playing at her old home court, was named to the all-tournament team. Phillips ranks fourth in the ASUN with 4.44 digs per set.

Senior middle blocker Anna Gragg, a three-time all-conference performer, is second in the ASUN in both attack percentage (.389) and blocks per set (1.18).

Redshirt junior Amelia Johnson is third in the ASUN with 3.67 kills per set. She had a career-high 19 kills against Virginia Tech on Sept. 7 and matched that total with 19 kills against Louisiana last Friday. She leads the team with 10 double-digit kill matches and four double-doubles (tied).

Senior right-side hitter Casey Goodwin, a two-time all-conference selection, was a first team All-ASUN pick last year when she led the ASUN with 40 aces. She needs 38 more kills to become Liberty's 16th player all-time with 1,000 or more career kills.

Senior setter Hannah Morris ranks fourth in the ASUN with 9.81 assists per set. Her career-high 53 assists against Louisiana were the most by a Flame since Amaya Williams' 59 against Presbyterian in 2017.

HOME SWEET HOME
After Tuesday's meeting against Liberty, FGCU will return home on Friday for a 7 p.m. match against North Alabama. It will be their first home event since Aug. 31.

ASUN Leaders (Top 10)
Kills - VanLiew (4th, 181)
Kills/Set - VanLiew (1st, 4.31)
Hitting Percentage - Shomaker (8th, .295)
Assists - Lockey (3rd, 470)
Assists/Set - Lockey (1st, 11.19)
Aces - Carroll (8th, 14)
Digs - Axner (3rd, 207)
Digs/Set - Axner (1st, 4.93)
Solo Blocks - Serrano/Shomaker (T-4th, 6), Morris (T-7th, 5)
Block Assists - Morris/Serrano (T-6th, 33)
Total Blocks - Serrano (6th, 39), Morris (T-7th, 38)
Blocks/Set - Morris (2nd, 1.19), Jones/Serrano (T-7th, 1.00)
Points - VanLiew (3rd, 204.5)
Points/Set - VanLiew (1st, 4.9)

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

Kills
1. 1,421 - Amanda Carroll (.256) - 2015-present
2. 1,132 - Olivia MESNER (.331) - 2011-14
3. 971 - Cortney VanLiew (.233) - 2017-present
4. 961 - Jessica BARNES (.194) - 2010-11,13-14
5. 926 - Kaitlin HOLM (.227) - 2011-13
6. 725 - Jill HOPPER (.203) - 2011-13
7. 699 - Daniele Serrano (.337) - 2016-present
8. 693 - Eleonora KAZARIAN (.225) - 2014-15
9. 678 - Ana KOKANOVIC (.281) - 2007-08
10. 649 - Jelena SIMIC (.206) - 2009,11

Attack attempts
1. 3,678 - Amanda Carroll (1421-478-3678) - 2015-present
2. 2,725 - Jessica BARNES (961-433-2725) - 2010-11,13-14
3. 2,703 - Cortney VanLiew (971-342-2703) - 2017-present
4. 2,449 - Kaitlin HOLM (926-371-2449) - 2011-13
5. 2,356 - Olivia MESNER (1132-353-2356) - 2011-14
6. 1,889 - Jill HOPPER (725-342-1889) - 2011-13
7. 1,846 - Jelena SIMIC (649-269-1846) - 2009,11
8. 1,808 - Eleonora KAZARIAN (693-287-1808) - 2014-15
9. 1,604 - Daniele Serrano (699-159-1604) - 2016-19
10. 1,574 - Ana KOKANOVIC (678-236-1574) - 2007-08

Digs
1. 1,687 - Whitney MASTERS (483 sets) - 2011-14
2. 1,652 - Holly YOUNGQUIST (418 sets) - 2008-11
3. 1,086 - Amanda Carroll (385 sets) - 2015-present
4. 1,084 - Courtney STEPHENS (451 sets) - 2014-17
5. 947 - Gigi MEYER (474 sets) - 2011-14
6. 877 - Karissa RHOADES (379 sets) - 2015-18
7. 831 - Dana Axner (162 sets) - 2018-present
8. 823 - Maggie RICK (467 sets) - 2015-18
9. 681 - Vanessa BENKE (164 sets) - 2013-15
10. 629 - Cortney VanLiew (268 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. 946 - Chelsey Lockey (152 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. 168 - Dana Axner (162 sets) - 2018-present

Solo Blocks
1. 62 - Olivia MESNER (428 sets) - 2011-14
2. 60 - Daniele Serrano (379 sets) - 2016-present
3. 42 - Amanda Carroll (385 sets) - 2015- present
4. 41 - Ashley YANCE (296 sets) - 2007-09
5. 38 - Kaitlin HOLM (359 sets) - 2011-13

Block assists
1. 342 - Daniele Serrano (379 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. 155 - Amanda Carroll (385 sets) - 2015-present
9. 153 - Eleonora KAZARIAN (213 sets) - 2014-15
10. 152 - Sharonda PICKERING (168 sets) - 2017-18

Total blocks
1. 402 - Daniele Serrano (379 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
197 - Amanda Carroll (385 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 (379 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. 1,655.5 - Amanda Carroll (1421k 115a 42-155b) - 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. 1,085.0 - Cortney VanLiew (971k 55a 19-80b) - 2017-present
5. 1,045.5 - Jessica BARNES (961k 43a 13-57b) - 2010-11,13-1
6. 932.0 - Daniele Serrano (699k 2a 60-342b) - 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. 110 - Amanda Carroll - 2015-present
    110 - 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) - 1,421
10. Katie Plummer (Mercer, 2001-04) - 1,390

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 126-47 (.728) 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

#1 Karissa Rhoades: L/DS; 5' 11"; Senior

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

#2 Giovanna Borgiotti: OH; 5' 10"; Senior

#8 Snowy Burnam: OH/S; 5' 11"; Junior

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

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

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

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

Players Mentioned

#1 Karissa Rhoades
: 5' 11"; Senior
: L/DS

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

#2 Giovanna Borgiotti
: 5' 10"; Senior
: OH

#8 Snowy Burnam
: 5' 11"; Junior
: OH/S

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

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

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

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