PREVIEW: @FGCU_VB looks for record start at Hurricane Invite this weekend

Hurricane Invitational
vs USF	11 a.m. \| Friday \| Live Stats
vs Auburn	5 p.m. \| Friday \| Live Stats
vs George Washington	2:30 p.m. \| Saturday \| Live Stats
Location	Coral Gables, Fla. \| Knight Complex
Tickets	Free
Twitter	@FGCU_VB
Instagram	@FGCU_VB
Facebook	FGCU Volleyball

Coral Gables, Fla. - The FGCU volleyball team (3-0) will be in search of the best start in the program's Division I era when it travels to the University of Miami for the Hurricane Invitational on Friday and Saturday.

The Eagles, who will meet USF (2-0), Auburn (1-2) and George Washington (2-1), swept the Homewood Suites Fort Myers Classic this past weekend to join the 2015 and 2017 teams as one of just three to start a season 3-0 since the program elevated to the Division I level in 2007. Neither of those teams were able to win their fourth match.

Top Performances
Dana Axner had a stellar opening weekend, racking up an ASUN-best 69 digs en route to being named the Homewood Suites Fort Myers Classic MVP. Her 28 digs against Akron is tied for the 10th most in a Division I era match and is tied for the third-most in a four-set match. In fact, she was named the ASUN's defensive player of the week on Tuesday, and her coverage on the clinching point of set three against San Diego State earned the No. 3 spot on NCAA Volleyball's top plays of the week nationally.

Cortney VanLiew, meanwhile, tallied an ASUN-best 52 kills to land a spot on the all-classic team. Her play allowed her to also win the season's first ASUN player of the week award, which was the fourth of her career.

Chelsey Lockey, who took over as the team's primary setter this year, also leads the ASUN with 134 assists, or 11.17 per set, through the first weekend. She had a career-high 54 helpers in the team's win over San Diego State that clinched the classic title. Two freshmen also made an impact - Aja Jones (12 kills, .348, nine blocks) and Erin Shomaker (25 kills, .288, eight blocks).

ASUN Leaders (Top 10)
Kills - VanLiew (1st, 52)
Kills/Set - VanLiew (1st, 4.33)
Hitting Percentage - Jones (4th, .348), Serrano (T-8th, .279)
Assists - Lockey (1st, 134)
Assists/Set - Lockey (1st, 11.17)
Aces - Burnam (T-5th, 5), VanLiew (T-7th, 4)
Digs - Axner (1st, 69)
Digs/Set - Axner (2nd, 5.75)
Solo Blocks - Shomaker (T-2nd, 2), VanLiew (T-2nd, 2)
Block Assists - Burnam (T-3rd, 10), Morris (5th, 9), Jones/Serrano (T-6th, 8)
Total Blocks - Burnam/Morris (T-4th, 10), Jones/Serrano (T-6th, 9)
Blocks/Set - Jones (3rd, 1.29), Morris (T-4th, 1.25), Serrano (T-8th, 1.00)

Opponent History
The Eagles are a combined 5-4 all-time against USF, Auburn and George Washington. Of those opponents, they've met USF the most - holding a 4-3 record in the regular season plus a 2-0 record in each of the past two years in preseason meetings. The last time the Green and Blue lost in the series was 2013. Meanwhile, FGCU is 0-1 against Auburn (3-1 on Sept. 7, 2014 in Columbus, Ohio) and 1-0 against George Washington (3-0 on Aug. 31, 2012 in Laramie, Wyo.)

Power 5 History
The Auburn matchup will be the first of four meetings against Power 5 teams for FGCU over the next two weeks, and the Eagles will be searching for their first win against an SEC team (0-6 previously). Following this weekend, they'll meet Indiana (Sept. 13), No. 12 Kentucky (Sept. 13) and Miami (Sept. 20). Last year, the Green and Blue produced a straight-set win over Miami in Coral Gables, which was the program's first-ever road win over a Power 5 school. In 2016, the Eagles defeated Indiana in Alico Arena for their first overall such victory.

Road Trippin'
This weekend begins a three-week stretch on the road for FGCU. After their jaunt to Coral Gables, the Eagles will head to Lexington to battle Indiana, No. 12 Kentucky and Cleveland State Sept. 13-14. Following that, they'll be in Orlando for matchups against Miami, UCF and FAU Sept. 20-21. Conference play then begins on the road at Liberty Sept. 24 before the Green and Blue host North Alabama on Sept. 27.

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

Kills
1. 1,398 - 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. 842 - Cortney VANLIEW (.225) - 2017- present
6. 725 - Jill HOPPER (.203) - 2011-13
7. 693 - Eleonora KAZARIAN (.225) - 2014-15
8. 678 - Ana KOKANOVIC (.281) - 2007-08
9. 649 - Jelena SIMIC (.206) - 2009,11
10. 638 - Daniele SERRANO (.344) - 2016- present

Attack attempts
1. 3,598 - Amanda CARROLL (1398-468-3598) - 2015- present
2. 2,725 - Jessica BARNES (961-433-2725) - 2010-11,13-14
3. 2,449 - Kaitlin HOLM (926-371-2449) - 2011-13
4. 2,377 - Cortney VANLIEW (842-306-2377) - 2017- present
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. 1,019 - Amanda CARROLL (355 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. 693 - Dana AXNER (132 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. 557 - Cortney VANLIEW (238 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. 610 - Chelsey LOCKEY (122 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. 147 - Karissa RHOADES (379 sets) - 2015-18
12. 134 - Dana AXNER (132 sets) - 2018-present

Solo Blocks
1. 62 - Olivia MESNER (428 sets) - 2011-14
2. 55 - Daniele SERRANO (349 sets) - 2016- present
3. 41 - Ashley YANCE (296 sets) - 2007-09
4. 38 - Kaitlin HOLM (359 sets) - 2011-13
    38 - Amanda CARROLL (355 sets) - 2015- present

Block assists
1. 317 - Daniele SERRANO (349 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

Total blocks
1. 372 - Daniele SERRANO (349 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. 189 - Amanda CARROLL (355 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. 1.07 - Daniele SERRANO (349 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. 1,613.5 - Amanda CARROLL (1398k 102a 38-151b) - 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. 940.5 - Cortney VANLIEW (842k 48a 17-67b) - 2017- present
6. 877.5 - Jill HOPPER (725k 88a 18-93b) - 2011-13
7. 853.5 - Daniele SERRANO (638k 2a 55-317b) - 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. 101 - Amanda CARROLL - 2015-present
    101 - 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) - 1,398
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. Shelby Connors (Stetson, 2014-17) - 373.0
11. Daniele Serrano (FGCU) - 372.0

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 119-45 (.726) 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

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

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

#1 Aja Jones: MB; 6' 1"; Freshman

#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

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

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

#1 Aja Jones
: 6' 1"; Freshman
: MB

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