FORT MYERS, Fla. — The Florida Gulf Coast University volleyball team delivered its fifth sweep of the season Sunday. FGCU won 3-0 against West Georgia for a third sweep for the Eagles against an Atlantic Sun Conference team this year.
The Green & Blue recorded a new program record of 19 aces in three sets. The previous mark was 13 set against UNC Asheville on Aug. 25, 2007. This is also the second most in a three set match in the country this year. Freshman
Raegan Richardson stormed her way into FGCU's record books and now holds the most aces in three sets with eight. She is also tied with four players nationally for the top spot in aces.
"This was a much better match in terms of our execution level within the sideout game which I was very happy to see," head coach
Matt Botsford said.
"This group is without a doubt the best serving team we have had here during my time. That is a big weapon for us and is directly impacting our ability to defend as well. Everyone was exceptional back there this afternoon but what Skylar and Raegan were doing was pretty special."
West Georgia (8-6, 1-1 ASUN) started set one with an 8-3 advantage before the Eagles (11-3, 3-0 ASUN) rallied together and unleashed a 14-4 run consisting of three kills from
Sasha Van Der Merwe and four aces from Richardson to overtake the lead to 17-11. From there, the Eagles took flight with an 8-5 rally off another three kills by Van Der Merwe to close out the set 25-16.
Set two began with both teams tied 5-5 before FGCU settled down and ripped out a 13-5 run to go on an 18-10 advantage. The Wolves defense had no answer as the Eagles delivered seven points to their two, to win the set 25-12.
In the final set FGCU easily jumped out to a 14-7 lead featuring a whopping five kills from
Shelby Kent. The Green & Blue then turned up its offense and an unleashed an 11-4 rally with kills from five different players to seal the set with a 25-11 victory. FGCU held the Wolves to a .000 attacking percentage in the final set while hitting .458 as a team.
Kent had a game high 12 kills,
Skylar English registered nine and Van Der Merwe had eight from 12 attacks.
The Eagles will now hit the road and head to Jacksonville Friday for a 7 p.m. match.
