Watch: SECN+
Live Stats: FGCU vs. Iowa State
Tickets: Florida Gators Ticket Office
Directions/Parking: Info
NCAA Tournament Bracket: PDF
Media: Info
Match Notes: PDF
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FORT MYERS, Fla. - FGCU Volleyball will take flight in Gainesville on Friday to face (6) Iowa State in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament starting at 4:30 p.m.
The Eagles-Cyclones battle will air on SECN+ at the Exactech Arena at Stephen C. O'Connell Center. The winner will advance to face the winner of the (3) Florida/Florida A&M matchup on Saturday at 7 p.m. in the Second Round. Single session and all-session passes can be purchased at the arena ticket booth and online at the Florida Gators Ticket Office (follow this link for purchasing).
FGCU soars into the NCAA Tournament for the third time in program history at 26-6 overall, winners of a season-best 10 straight, and back-to-back ASUN Tournament Champions. The Green & Blue recorded a Power Five victory over Maryland during the opening weekend.
FGCU also possesses a season-best RPI of 36 with a 5-2 record against teams holding an RPI of 51-100. The Eagles are 17-2 in three-set matches, 8-2 in four-set contests and 1-2 five-set battles this season.
Iowa State enters the postseason 19-11 after finishing fourth in the Big 12, holding an RPI of 31. The Cyclones have notched two ranked wins this season, including a 3-2 home victory over No.1 Texas. Iowa State's other top 25 win came against #13 Baylor, 3-1.
Friday's First Round battle will be the first-ever meeting between the two programs. FGCU is 1-1 all-time against Big 12 opponents, besting Texas Tech in last year's NCAA First Round matchup to advance to the Seond Round.
SCOUTING THE CYCLONES:
The Cyclones are led by senior Eleanor Holthaus and freshman Maya Duckworth, both All-Big 12 honorees. Holthaus earned first team honors, while Duckworth garnered second team recognition. Duckworth also was a unanimous selection to the All-Rookie Team.
Holthaus paces the cycles in overall kills (366), averaging 3.05 kills per set. Halthaus is fifth all-time in career kills at Iowa State (1,484). Duckworth is second on the squad in total kills this season with 293. Duckworth has also delivered 55 total blocks and 185 digs on the defensive side of the ball. The rookie has seven double-doubles, 19 double-digit kills, and eight double-digit dig performances this season.
As a team, the Cyclones are hitting .213 percent on the year to FGCU's .267. Iowa State holds the defensive edge on paper up at the net in total blocks, 291.5 to 232.5. However, the Eagles will look to manufacture points in other areas and set the tone from the service. FGCU has recorded 209 aces, No. 15 nationally in aces per set (1.9), to Iowa State's 162.
The Cyclones are 3-3 this season at a neutral site venue, while FGCU is 10-1. Iowa State is also battle tested, winning five of seven matches that went the distance this season.
For complete coverage of the volleyball program, follow the Eagles on Twitter at @FGCU_VB, on Instagram at @FGCU_VB, on Facebook at /FGCUVolleyball and online at FGCUathletics.com. You can also sign-up to have news on FGCU volleyball or other programs delivered directly to your inbox by visiting www.fgcuathletics.com/email.
FGCU NOTES
- BACK-TO-BACK ASUN CHAMPS:
FGCU closed the regular season 13-3 in league play, earning the No. 2 overall seed for the ASUN Tournament. In the conference tournament, the Eagles took care of No. 7 North Florida and No. 6 Kennesaw State en route to their seventh straight ASUN title match appearance. FGCU then swept the No. 1 overall seed in Liberty to capture back-to-back ASUN Tournaments crowns.
- 3RD TOURNAMENT APPEARANCE:
FGCU's 2022 ticket marks the third all-time appearance in the Big Dance. The Eagles are 2-2 all-time in the NCAA tournament, winning two First Round matches. In 2018, FGCU upset No.13 UCF (*first-ever ranked win) and last year in 2021, the Eagles took down Texas Tech.
- 10-MATCH WIN STREAK:
The Eagles posted a perfect 8-0 record during the month of November. FGCU's last loss occurred back on Oct. 22. The Green & Blue carries a season-best 10-match win streak heading into the NCAA First Round.
- 17 SWEEPS:
The Green & Blue has posted clean sweeps of its opponents 17 times this season, nine in ASUN play.
- STATISTICAL TOP 25:
FGCU enters the postseason No. 15 in the nation in aces per set (1.88) and No. 25 in opponent hitting percentage (.168%)
- SEEKING WIN #27
A win over the Cyclones will mark the 27th victory of the season, tying a program record for the most wins in a single season that was previously set during the 2016, 2018, 2019, and 2021 campaigns. The Eagles have posted 20-or-more overall wins in eight out of the last nine seasons (excluding 2020) under head coach Matt Botsford. Botsford is the winningest coach in FGCU history and ranks 13th in the nation among all active DI coaches in career winning percentage at .764 percent, 210-65. He recorded his 200th career win at FGCU this season in a 3-0 sweep of Queens University of Charlotte.
- 2022 ASUN PLAYER OF THE YEAR: LILY FELTS
Five Eagles earned ASUN Postseason honors as Lily Felts (Knoxville, Tenn./Tennessee) garnered ASUN Player of the Year distinction. Felts' honor marked the seventh time and the sixth consecutive season that FGCU has been home to the league's Player of the Year.
Felts is second on the team in total kills this season with 344. After a 1,000-kill career as a Tennessee Volunteer, she has settled in as another explosive outside option by producing 22 matches of 10-more-kills. Felts broke FGCU's three-set match kill record with season-best and career high of 27 in a win over Stetson.
Three Eagles earned first team honors as
Erin Shomaker (Granville, Ohio) and
Chelsey Lockey (Eaton, Colorado) joined Felts and her unanimous selection to the ASUN First Team All-Conference squad. Shomaker leads both the Eagles and the ASUN in total kills (410), 87th nationally. Shomaker has recorded 10-or-more kills 20 times this season with a career high 29 against Lipscomb, setting a new 4-set match kill record at FGCU.
Dana Axner (Dublin, Ohio) was named to the second team and Lauren Clark (Champlin, Minn.) earned third team recognition to round out the postseason awards for FGCU.
- FGCU & ASUN ALL-TIME LEADER IN CAREER DIGS: DANA AXNER
Fifth-year senior libero continues to be a force in the back row with 507 digs toward the Eagles' cause. Her 4.53 digs per set this season ranks fourth in the ASUN and 66th nationally. During the ASUN Championship, the all-time career digs leader at FGCU became the ASUN's all-time leader surpassing Jacksonville's Shelley Walroth (2006-09).
- FGCU ALL-TIME LEADER IN CAREER ASSISTS: CHELSEY LOCKEY
The do-it-all, fifth-year senior setter directs the Green & Blue offense and is now the all-time leader in assists at FGCU (4,704). Lockey has posted 40-or-more assists in 15 matches this season. The Eaton, Colorado native ranks 19th nationally in assists per set at a 10.85 clip, second-best in the ASUN. Lockey also leads the Eagles in (41) aces and is fourth in blocks (57) this season.
EAGLES ON THE RISE
| Place. Name (University and Years) |
ASUN Career Digs |
| 1. Dana Axner (FGCU: 2018- |
2,465 |
| 2. Shelley Walroth (Jacksonville: 2006-09) |
2,456 |
| 3. Ann Mullins (Lipscomb: 2005-07) |
1,969 |
| 4. Nicole Baran (North Florida: 2009-12) |
1,900 |
| 5. Adriana Nieto (NJIT: 2015-18) |
1,878 |
| Place. Name (Year) |
FGCU Career Kills |
| 1. Cortney VanLiew (2017-21) |
1,657 |
| 2. Amanda Carroll (2015-19) |
1,483 |
| 3. Erin Shomaker (2019- |
1,298 |
| 4. Brooke Youngquist (2004-07) |
1,173 |
| 5. Olivia Mesner (2011-14) |
1,132 |
| Place. Name (Year) |
FGCU Career Blocks |
| 1. Daniele Serrano (2016-19) |
483 |
| 2. Olivia Mesner (2011-14) |
342 |
| 3. Ashley Yance (2005-06) |
287 |
| 4. Ericka Fonseca (2005-06) |
247 |
| 5. Chelsey Lockey (2018- |
226 |
| Place. Name (Year) |
FGCU Career Assists |
| 1. Chelsey Lockey (2018- |
4,704 |
| 2. Maggie Rick (2015-18) |
4,540 |
| 3. Gigi Meyer (2011-14) |
4,408 |
| 4. Chandra Lefever (2006-07, 09) |
3,108 |
| 5. Laura Manovill (2004-05) |
1,809 |
| Place. Name (University and Years) |
ASUN Career Assists |
| 1. Colleen Nilson (Belmont: 2004-07) |
5,636 |
| 2. April DeCoste (Georgia State: 2001-04) |
5,391 |
| 3. Stefine "Jake" Pease (Lipscomb: 2007-2010) |
5,159 |
| 4. Kendall Courtney (Jacksonville: 2010-13) |
4,851 |
| 5. Chelsey Lockey (2018- |
4,704 |
E.A.G.L.E. CAMPAIGN
IT TAKES A TEAM to achieve our newest goal - a $10 million campaign to address student-athlete needs in continued academic success, life skills, mental health, nutrition, and strength and conditioning as well as departmental needs in facility expansion and improvement as well as mentoring and leadership training for coaches and staff. The name embodies our mission and the purpose of the E.A.G.L.E. Campaign - Eagle Athletics Generating Lifetime Excellence. Join Our Team and pledge your gift today to help the Eagles of tomorrow!
COACH BOTSFORD
Matt Botsford is in his ninth season as head coach of the FGCU women's volleyball program after being hired on Feb. 10, 2014. In his tenure, Botsford-led teams have compiled a 210-65 (.764) overall record, including a 109-23 (.826) mark in ASUN play. Botsford the winningest coach in FGCU history and ranks 13th in the nation among all active DI coaches in career winning percentage. He has taken the program to heights it has not seen in the Division-I era (2007-present), registering at least 20 wins in eight of the past nine seasons (excluding COVID 2020) and at least 10 wins in conference play every year. This season (2022), Botsford recorded his 200th career win at FGCU with a 3-0 sweep of Queens. In 2018, he led the Eagles program to its first regular-season championship since 2012 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. Now, FGCU has made seven straight ASUN title match appearances, won four-straight regular season titles (five total under Botsford), including capturing three ASUN Tournament Championship crowns. On Sept. 10, 2016, Botsford led the Eagles 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. In 2018, he also led his squad to a win over Miami (Fla.) - the program's first-ever road Power 5 win and the Eagles followed that up with a straight-set win over the Hurricanes at a neutral site in 2019. In 2021, the Green & Blue posted its best-ever RPI of 31 and tallied 27 victories, tying the program record previously set in 2016, 2018 and 2019 seasons, and notched a NCAA First Round win over Texas Tech. The win over the Red Raiders marked the second NCAA First Round win for the Eagles following its 3-2 win over No. 13 UCF in Orlando in 2018. Furthermore, FGCU has now been the home to the ASUN's Player of the Year for the six consecutive season.
#FEEDFGCU
FGCU Athletics sponsors events in November and April to benefit the FGCU Campus Food Pantry (https://www.fgcu.edu/adminservices/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 https://www.fgcu.edu/adminservices/foodpantry and utilize the hashtag #FeedFGCU to help raise awareness.
ABOUT FGCU
FGCU teams have combined to win an incredible 94 conference regular season and tournament titles in just 15-plus seasons at the Division I level. Additionally, in just 11-plus seasons of D-I postseason eligibility, the Eagles have had a combined 46 teams or individuals compete in NCAA championships. In 2022, the men's golf team became the first program to earn an at-large berth to the NCAA Tournament. Eight FGCU programs have earned a top-25 national ranking in their respective sport - including women's basketball (No. 20, 2021-22), beach volleyball (No. 20, 2022) and both men's soccer (2018, 2019) and women's soccer (2018) as four of the most recent. In 2016-17, the Green & 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 3.50 GPA in the classroom in the fall 2020 semester and has outperformed the general University undergraduate population for 26 consecutive semesters. The past six semesters (Fall 2019 – Spring 2022) saw another milestone reached as all 15 programs achieved a 3.0-or-higher cumulative team GPA. 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---
