The FGCU volleyball team (7-2) produced 26 block assists to grab a 25-16, 25-15, 20-25, 25-20 win over Cleveland State to close out the Bluegrass Battle at the University of Kentucky's Memorial Coliseum on Saturday.
"Today was one of the better defensive performances I have seen from this group," FGCU head coach Matt Botsford said. "CSU has some very talented hitters that can really influence the course of a match and I thought the team did a great job of limiting their impact."
The Eagles, who will be back in action next weekend in Orlando against Miami, UCF and Florida Atlantic, tied for the fourth-highest team block assist total in the program's Division I era, finishing just four shy of the record set against Lipscomb on Oct. 7 of last year.
Individually, senior Daniele Serrano (7), who also had nine kills, and sophomore Tori Morris (6) combined for 13 of those block assists, while five others had at least two.
"Considering the late night we had on Friday, getting back to hotel a little after midnight, and the heat in that gym in the earlier two matches, I knew our players were exhausted," Botsford said. "To see them come out and execute so well early on really showcases how much focus they put into their preparation and their ability to play assignment volleyball against a tough opponent."
FGCU used an 8-0 run to seize control of the opening set after a back-and-forth start. Clinging to a one-point lead, junior Cortney VanLiew had half of the team's four kills during the stretch that allowed the Eagles to claim a 23-14 lead. The junior outside hitter then recorded her fifth kill of the set to give her team the victory.
In the second set, sophomore Chelsey Lockey produced a successful setter dump to start a 4-0 run that gave FGCU a 12-7 lead. She teamed with Serrano on a block to finish the spurt, and Erin Shomaker sent down her second kill of the frame to push the lead to seven moments later. The Eagles then took a two-set lead with three straight points as Shelby Beisner served out the set.
After hitting .290 and .250, respectively, in the first two sets, FGCU was held to a .156 performance in the third set as Cleveland State took the lead early and scored eight of the first 11 points. An unforced error allowed the Eagles to tie it up at 19, but CSU scored six of the final seven points to extend the match.
Junior Snowy Burnam, however, led the Green and Blue with four of her team-high 12 kills in the fourth set to finish off the win. The junior outside hitter added five digs and five blocks (one solo), while VanLiew grabbed her fourth double-double of the season with 10 kills, 11 digs, two blocks and two assists. Burnam's 12 kills put her at 499 and needs one more kill to become the 17th player to reach 500 career kills.
Lockey led all players with 42 assists and 10 digs for her second straight and fourth double-double of the season. She added three blocks and three kills, while classmate Dana Axner had team-high 18 digs and two assists.
Redshirt senior Amanda Carroll, who had her third kill on the match-winning point, also contributed 11 digs and two block assists.
Longtime assistant coach Daniel Mahy earned his 273rd win as a coach for FGCU and his 301st as a coach in the NCAA while second year assistant coach Stephanie Zelinski earned her 62nd.
Notes:
Axner was named to the Bluegrass Battle all-tournament team … VanLiew is now one kill shy of matching Kaitlin Holm (926, 2011-13) for fourth place in career kills … Carroll added a solo block to tie Ashley Yance (41, 2007-09) for the third most in a career in the program's Division I era … Serrano now has 390.0 career blocks, which is two shy of tying Jacksonville's Kylie Jacob (2010-13) and Belmont's Sara Jacobson (2002-05) for seventh place on the A-SUN's career list
Up Next:
The Eagles will remain on the road for the final tournament as they travel to Orlando to participate in the Sunshine State Challenge. The Eagles will face host UCF (6-3), Miami (2-3), and Florida Atlantic (FAU) (6-2).
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