FGCU BVB: Eckerd College's Battle on the Bay

After a tough 3-2 loss to Tampa in the opener, the FGCU beach volleyball team (2-2) rebounded with a 5-0 win over UT Martin on Saturday to split the second day and conclude Eckerd College's Battle on the Bay at North Shore Courts.

"We did some really good things against a very talented Tampa team, but I was disappointed by the way we closed out sets," FGCU head coach Matt Botsford said. "We have to find ways to apply more pressure to the opponent in end-game situations."

In the opener, seniors Karissa Rhoades and Katherine Puisis registered a straight-set win at the No. 2 pair, and then redshirt sophomore Candace Lacour and junior Giovanna Borgiotti won 18-16 in the third set to put the Eagles up 2-1. Tampa, however, took a third set at the No. 3 pair to even things up and then won the No. 1 pair by taking the final two sets 27-25 and 15-12.

In the finale against UT Martin, freshman Emma Hansen was inserted into the No. 5 pair to team with sophomore Cortney VanLiew. The duo won in straight sets to give Hansen her first collegiate win. The rest of the Green and Blue followed suit to finish a 10-set sweep in a first-ever matchup between the two teams.

With two more wins on Saturday, Rhoades now has 44 in her career, which is three shy of surpassing Madi Wilcox (46-32, .590) for the program record. Her teammate, Puisis continues to hold the career winning percentage record with .615 (40-25), while Rhoades is second at .611 (44-28).

 

Senior Amanda Carroll teamed with freshman Kirstine Garder to produce her 25th career win at the No. 1 pair. She is 34-33 in her career.

 

FGCU's No. 2, 3 and 4 pairs are now all 3-1 this year.

Saturday's Results:

Tampa 3, FGCU 2

1. Oswald/Rosequist (Tampa) d. Garder/Carroll 9-21, 27-25, 15-12

2. Puisis/Rhoades (FGCU) d. Thompson/Rosequist 21-19, 21-15

3. McKiel/Houghton (Tampa) d. Burnam/Whetstone 18-21, 21-16, 15-12

4. Lacour/Borgiotti (FGCU) d. Elias/Pfuner 21-17, 19-21, 18-16

5. Duffy/Haslag (Tampa) d. Ryan/VanLiew 21-17, 19-21, 15-12

FGCU 5, UT Martin 0

1. Garder/Carroll d. Gyori/Phillips 21-14, 21-18

2. Puisis/Rhoades d. Hinshaw/Scanlon 21-14, 21-8

3. Burnam/Whetstone d. Fair/Walker 21-12, 21-11

4. Lacour/Borgiotti d. Geurin/Reynolds 21-8, 21-9

5. Hansen/VanLiew d. Conley/Wallick 21-11, 21-13

Up Next:

The Eagles travel to Atlanta for the Georgia State Day of Duals. The Eagles will face host Georgia State (6-4) at 3 pm before facing Power 5 South Carolina (5-5) at 5 pm.