Last Time Out:
The Eagles opened their season at home by hosting the Homewood Suites Fort Myers Classic. There, they defeated Akron 3-1 on day one before shutting out Bryant 3-0 and ending with a 3-2 nail-biting win over San Diego State.
What It Do VanLiew:
Junior Cortney VanLiew leads the team in success offensively. The defending A-SUN Player of the Year leads the team with 52 kills along with 22 digs and four aces. In the match against San Diego State, VanLiew recorded her first double-double of the season of 21 kills and 10 digs. VanLiew's 52 kills put her at 842 in her career (6th all-time) and is 85 away from passing Kaitlin Holm (926, 2011-13) for fifth all-time. As a result of her performance, VanLiew was named A-SUN Player of the Week. This is the fourth career A-SUN player of the week selection for VanLiew.
"I thought Cortney showed a lot of progress in first contact and that has been an area of emphasis for her over the past few months," head coach Matt Botsford said. "She also showed a lot of patience at the net with her attacking and was big within our net defense."
Welcome Back, Mrs. Aces:
The long awaited return for redshirt senior Amanda Carroll was a wonderful moment for the Eagles. Carroll, who missed most of the 2018 season after a season-ending knee injury, played in two matches and recorded three kills and 17 digs. Carroll's three kills put her at 1,398 in her career while her 17 digs put her at 1,019 (6th all-time).
Lock Up:
After Maggie Rick graduated, sophomore Chelsea Lockey has done her part of taking over for the all-time assists leader. Lockey currently has 134 assists on the year and 610 in her career (8th all-time). Lockey needs 70 assists to pass Ciara Sandoval (679, 2005) for 7th all-time.
Paul Bunyan's Apprentice:
Sophomore Dana Axner currently leads the way with 69 digs (5.75 digs per set) and has 693 in her career (12th all-time). The defending A-SUN Defensive Player of the Year who was named a member of the Homewood Suites Fort Myers All-Classic and team MVP needs 73 to pass Chandra Lefever (765, 2006-07, 09) for 11th all-time. Like VanLiew, Axner was named A-SUN Defensive Player of the Week.
"Dana also showed that she has progressed in terms of serve receive," Botsford said. "Her role has grown a lot since last fall and, while her defense was at a high level all weekend, her serving and passing was a difference maker in those matches."
New Bloods:
Three freshmen made their debuts in an Eagle uniform, Shelby Beisner, Erin Shoemaker and Aja Jones. Beisner has an ace and three digs, Shoemaker is second on the team in kills (25) and eight blocks and Jones has 12 kills and nine blocks.
Mojo 500:
In the match against Bryant, senior Giovanna "Giogio" Borgiotti, who has 14 kills and a block for the Eagles, earned her 500th career kill with the team, becoming the 16th Eagle in doing so and now has 509 in her career. Borgiotti is 64 shy of passing Leigh Pudwill (572, 2015-16) for 15th all-time.
A Winter Wonderland:
Junior Snowy Burnam is also on pace to becoming the 17th Eagle to reach 500 kills. Burnam has 15 kills in her name thus far and has 461 in her career after passing Christine Pinder (453, 2012-13) and Marlene Moeller (453, 2012-16) for 19th all-time. Burnam needs 39 more kills to reach the milestone. In addition, Burnam is tied for first with sophomore Tori Morris with 10 blocks.
Spice Burns:
Senior Daniele Serrano is third on the team in kills (24) and is tied for second with Jones in blocks (9). Serrano's 24 kills put her at 638 and is 12 away from passing passing Jelena Semic (649, 2009, 2011) for 13th all-time. As for her blocking, Serrano has 372 total blocks (all-time leader), 317 block assists (all-time leader) and 55 (2nd all-time). Serrano is eight away from passing Olivia Mesner (62, 2011-13).
Block Party 2.0:
With the departure of Kaiti Krivdo and Sharonda Pickering, two of the original members of the Block Party, the remaining members (Serrano, Borgiotti, Burnam, VanLiew and Morris) have a combined 36 total blocks (five solo), but now based on this season, two new members will be a part of the Block Party 2.0, Jones and Shoemaker. Both freshmen have a combined 17 total blocks (three solo), thus the team has a combined 53 total blocks (eight solo).
Assist Life:
Longtime assistant coach Daniel Mahy has also reached his milestone. At the Homewood Suites Fort Myers Classic, Mahy earned his 269th career win as a coach for FGCU and his 297th overall win as a coach. Mahy enters his 14th season as assistant coach with the exclusion of two seasons at DII Barry University.
Second-year assistant coach Stephanie Zelinski earned her 58th career win as a coach.
Shutout Life:
Since joining the A-SUN in 2007, the Eagles have had 139 shutouts.
Scouting USF:
USF finished 20-12 last season with a 9-9 record in the American Athletic Conference (AAC). They would qualify for the NIVC before falling to Georgia Tech in the first round. The Bulls are coming off of competing in the Ball State Tournament for their season opener. There, they defeated UAB 3-1 before defeating host Ball State 3-2.
Sophomore Lindsey Pliapol leads the team offensively with 37 kills and 24 digs. Pliapol had a double-double in both matches. Senior Jac'cara Walker is second on the team with 22 kills and three aces.
Defensively, freshman Ally Barnhart leads the team with 12 blocks to go with her 15 kills, while sophomore CC Clausen has 44 digs.
Scouting Auburn:
The Tigers will be one of three Power 5 schools that the Eagles will play. The Tigers finished last season 12-16 overall with a 5-13 record in the SEC. They are coming off of competing in their hosted War Eagle Invitational where they fell 3-2 to Tennessee State and 3-0 to New Mexico State before finishing day two with a 3-2 win over Butler.
Senior Enija Bidzane leads the team with 39 kills while junior Chesney McClellan has 31 kills and 10 blocks in her name. Sophomores Val Green and Tatum Shipes follow Bidzame and McClellan with 26 and 24 kills respectively. Shipes also lead the Tigers with 12 total blocks.
Defensively, aside from Shipe's 12 blocks, junior Payton White has 69 digs. White had a match-high 37 against Butler.
Scouting George Washington:
George Washington finished last season 11-15 overall with a 5-9 record in the Atlantic 10. The Colonials opened their season at home hosting the DC Challenge. There they split day one losing 3-1 to American University and shutting out Hartford before shutting out Howard on day two.
Offensively, senior Skylar Iott has 39 kills and three aces. In her first two matches, Iott had double-doubles in kills and digs. Following Iott offensively is grad student Paty Valle. A transfer from Texas Christian (TCU), Valle has 23 kills and four aces (both second on the team).
Defensively, grad student Caroline Sklaver leads the team with 20 blocks to go with her 17 kills while sophomore Bella Bowman had 38 digs and three aces.
Scouting Miami:
The Eagles will not play Miami in the Hurricane Invitational, but will play them in the Sunshine State Challenge in Orlando at the Venue at UCF (9/20-21). Last season, Miami finished the regular season at 13-12 with a 9-9 record in the ACC.
The Hurricanes began the season at home with a match against Mizzou, where they lost 3-1.
Freshman Kennedy Prince led the team with 15 kills and three aces while junior Janet Kalaniuvalu followed with 13. Kalaniuvalu transferred from Southern Utah where she was a member of the Big Sky All-Conference Second Team. Freshman Sequoia Wattles had 41 assists with two blocks.
Defensively, sophomore Emily Damon had 16 digs while classmate Priscilla Hernandez followed with 10.
Series History:
Against George Washington, it will be the second ever matchup between the two teams. Last time was on 8/31/2013 at the Cowgirl Classic in Wyoming.
Against USF, the Eagles hold the series at 4-3. The last time both teams met was on 9/5/2015 at the USF Classic. The Eagles shutout the Bulls for that match. Last time the Bulls defeated FGCU was on 9/10/13 where they won 3-1 in Ft. Myers.
For the match against Auburn, it will be the second matchup. The first time was on 9/7/2014 at the Ohio State Annual D.C. Koehl Classic where the Tigers won 3-1.
Despite not playing Miami, the Eagles are currently 1-3 against the Hurricanes. Last time both teams met, the Eagles shutout the Hurricanes at the Sunshine State Classic last season in Miami.
Scheduling:
9/6-
FGCU vs USF (11 am)
FGCU vs Auburn (5 pm)
GW vs Miami (7:30 pm)
9/7-
USF vs Auburn (11 am)
GW vs FGCU (2:30 pm)
USF vs Miami (5:30 pm)
9/8- Auburn vs GW (11 am)
How to Keep Up:
Livestats will be available for all eight matches and fans can keep up with all the teams on Twitter.
Twitter Handles
FGCU: @FGCU_VB
Auburn: @AuburnVB
USF: @usfvolleyball
George Washington: @GW_Volleyball
Miami: @CanesVB
Livestats Link: https://hurricanesports.com/sidearmstats/wvball/summary
Shutout Life:
Since joining the A-SUN in 2007, the Eagles have had 139 shutouts.
Scouting USF:
USF finished 20-12 last season with a 9-9 record in the American Athletic Conference (AAC). They would qualify for the NIVC before falling to Georgia Tech in the first round. The Bulls are coming off of competing in the Ball State Tournament for their season opener. There, they defeated UAB 3-1 before defeating host Ball State 3-2.
Sophomore Lindsey Pliapol leads the team offensively with 37 kills and 24 digs. Pliapol had a double-double in both matches. Senior Jac'cara Walker is second on the team with 22 kills and three aces.
Defensively, freshman Ally Barnhart leads the team with 12 blocks to go with her 15 kills, while sophomore CC Clausen has 44 digs.
Scouting Auburn:
The Tigers will be one of three Power 5 schools that the Eagles will play. The Tigers finished last season 12-16 overall with a 5-13 record in the SEC. They are coming off of competing in their hosted War Eagle Invitational where they fell 3-2 to Tennessee State and 3-0 to New Mexico State before finishing day two with a 3-2 win over Butler.
Senior Enija Bidzane leads the team with 39 kills while junior Chesney McClellan has 31 kills and 10 blocks in her name. Sophomores Val Green and Tatum Shipes follow Bidzame and McClellan with 26 and 24 kills respectively. Shipes also lead the Tigers with 12 total blocks.
Defensively, aside from Shipe's 12 blocks, junior Payton White has 69 digs. White had a match-high 37 against Butler.
Scouting George Washington:
George Washington finished last season 11-15 overall with a 5-9 record in the Atlantic 10. The Colonials opened their season at home hosting the DC Challenge. There they split day one losing 3-1 to American University and shutting out Hartford before shutting out Howard on day two.
Offensively, senior Skylar Iott has 39 kills and three aces. In her first two matches, Iott had double-doubles in kills and digs. Following Iott offensively is grad student Paty Valle. A transfer from Texas Christian (TCU), Valle has 23 kills and four aces (both second on the team).
Defensively, grad student Caroline Sklaver leads the team with 20 blocks to go with her 17 kills while sophomore Bella Bowman had 38 digs and three aces.
Scouting Miami:
The Eagles will not play Miami in the Hurricane Invitational, but will play them in the Sunshine State Challenge in Orlando at the Venue at UCF (9/20-21). Last season, Miami finished the regular season at 13-12 with a 9-9 record in the ACC.
The Hurricanes began the season at home with a match against Mizzou, where they lost 3-1.
Freshman Kennedy Prince led the team with 15 kills and three aces while junior Janet Kalaniuvalu followed with 13. Kalaniuvalu transferred from Southern Utah where she was a member of the Big Sky All-Conference Second Team. Freshman Sequoia Wattles had 41 assists with two blocks.
Defensively, sophomore Emily Damon had 16 digs while classmate Priscilla Hernandez followed with 10.
Series History:
Against George Washington, it will be the second ever matchup between the two teams. Last time was on 8/31/2013 at the Cowgirl Classic in Wyoming.
Against USF, the Eagles hold the series at 4-3. The last time both teams met was on 9/5/2015 at the USF Classic. The Eagles shutout the Bulls for that match. Last time the Bulls defeated FGCU was on 9/10/13 where they won 3-1 in Ft. Myers.
For the match against Auburn, it will be the second matchup. The first time was on 9/7/2014 at the Ohio State Annual D.C. Koehl Classic where the Tigers won 3-1.
Despite not playing Miami, the Eagles are currently 1-3 against the Hurricanes. Last time both teams met, the Eagles shutout the Hurricanes at the Sunshine State Classic last season in Miami.
Scheduling:
9/6-
FGCU vs USF (11 am)
FGCU vs Auburn (5 pm)
GW vs Miami (7:30 pm)
9/7-
USF vs Auburn (11 am)
GW vs FGCU (2:30 pm)
USF vs Miami (5:30 pm)
9/8- Auburn vs GW (11 am)
How to Keep Up:
Livestats will be available for all eight matches and fans can keep up with all the teams on Twitter.
Twitter Handles
FGCU: @FGCU_VB
Auburn: @AuburnVB
USF: @usfvolleyball
George Washington: @GW_Volleyball
Miami: @CanesVB
Livestats Link: https://hurricanesports.com/sidearmstats/wvball/summary
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