FGCU Volleyball: Homewood Suites Sunshine State Classic Preview

After a successful start to the season, the FGCU volleyball team prepares themselves for another three game weekend in the Homewood Suites Sunshine State Classic. The Eagles welcome UCF, FAU and Miami for the tournament.

Last Time Out:
The Eagles (3-0) opened their season at home in the FGCU Hilton Garden Inn Invitational that featured FIU (0-3), Georgia Southern (1-2) and IUPUI (2-1). They shutout all three teams 3-0: FIU (25-13, 25-21, 25-23), Georgia Southern (25-16, 25-16, 25-16) and IUPUI (25-21, 25-23, 25-13).

Since their transition to DI in the 2007-08 season, the FGCU volleyball team has had a total of 105 shutouts as of August 26th.

Leading the charge offensively throughout the tournament was junior outside hitter Amanda Carroll. The Albuquerque native and former A-SUN Freshman of the Year had a total of 51 kills, five aces, 29 digs, and 57 points. In addition, she was named a member of the  FGCU Hilton Garden Inn Invitational All-Tournament Team as well as being named tournament MVP.

Junior setter Maggie Rick and junior libero Karissa Rhaodes also joined Carroll on the All-Tournament.

Hoping to defend her title as A-Sun Setter of the Year, Rick, a native of Alpharetta, Georgia, had a total of 116 assists in all three matches.

Rhaodes was selected as A-Sun Player of the Week. The Valrico, Florida native that transitioned from outside hitter to libero had 43 digs in the tournament.
The Eagles welcome three teams that will be participating in the tournament: UCF, FAU and Miami

Scouting UCF:
UCF (1-2) recently competed in the UNC Bears/ CSU Rams Classic in Greeley, Colorado. The Golden Knights beat co-host Northern Colorado by a score of 3-2 (25-19, 22-25, 20-25, 25-23, 17-15), but would fall to 2-3 to Duke (25-18, 15-25, 25-17, 23-25, 15-8) and 1-3 (19-25, 27-25, 25-14, 25-18) to co-host Colorado State.

Redshirt senior Kia Bright leads the team offensively. The former Auburn transfer has 52 kills and three aces.

Junior Miranda Watkins leads the team in assists (71).

Defensively, redshirt senior Taylor Wickey leads the team with 14 blocks while junior Jordan Pingel leads the team with 49 digs.

Last time FGCU and UCF met, was in 2011 where the Golden Knights were victorious with a 3-0 shutout. FGCU is 1-2 against the Golden Knights. The lone win the Eagles had on UCF was in 2008 where they won 3-1.

Scouting FAU:
FAU (3-0) recently competed in the Stetson Invitational. They shutout Central Connecticut (25-19, 25-17, 25-23), Stephen F. Austin (25-11. 25-22, 25-19) and host Stetson (25-17, 25-9, 25-13). Their 3-0 start to the was occurred the first time in three years.

Offensively, the duo of sophomore Sigourney Kame and redshirt senior Kristi Tekavec combine a total of 71 kills while junior Ivone Martinez leads the team with 136 assists.

Defensively, junior Abbi Reid has 10 blocks while junior Alex Cardona leads with 43 digs.

The Eagles are 3-5 against the Owls. The last match between the two teams was in 2016 where FGCU won 3-2 in the FAU Tournament hosted by the Owls.

Scouting the "U":
Miami (3-0) recently competed in the Southern Miss Invitational. The Hurricanes won all three matches beating Little Rock 3-1 (25-20, 16-25, 25-22, 25-13), host Southern Miss 3-2 (24-26, 22-25, 25-22, 25-12, 15-13) and Nicholls State University 3-0 (25-17, 26-24, 25-12).

Senior Olga Strantzali leads the offense. A native of Pylala, Greece, Stranzali leads the team with 64 kills and eight aces.

Redshirt junior Haley Templeton leads with 111 assists.

Senior Sylvia Hernandez leads with 44 digs.

The last time FGCU and Miami faced each other was in 2014 where the Hurricanes were victorious with a 3-0 win. FGCU is 0-2 against The "U".

FAU and UCF will face each other first at 10 am on Friday and will follow with FAU face Miami at 4:30 pm before FGCU faces UCF at 7 pm.

The tournament will continue with FGCU facing at 11 am and Miami face UCF at 1:30 before FGCU wraps up the tournament by facing Miami at 7 pm.

The game against UCF will be a Green Out while the game against Miami will be a Blue Out.