For the second consecutive year, the FGCU volleyball team claimed the No. 2 seed behind regular season champion Lipscomb in the Atlantic Sun Conference Championship Tournament.
FGCU claimed the No. 2 spot after sweeping conference newcomer NJIT (25­12, 25­19, 25­21) on Saturday, Nov. 14 in Fort Myers. As the No. 2 seed, FGCU earns a first round bye in next weekend’s A­Sun tournament held in Nashville, Tennessee and will face the winner of the No. 3 Kennesaw State vs. No. 6 Stetson match on Friday, Nov. 20.
FGCU moves to a 21­10 overall record, 10­4 in conference, as it enters postseason play. The Eagles head to Nashville for the 2015 A­-Sun Championships where they await to play the winner of the Kennesaw State and Stetson match.
Kennesaw and Stetson last saw each other less than two weeks ago. The teams are repeating a matchup that happened on Friday, Nov. 6. In their last meetup, Kennesaw took a sweeping win over Stetson. Stetson produced a season ­low 27 kills and hit .051.
If Kennesaw takes the match, FGCU will be challenged. With one win and one loss to Kennesaw during the 2015 season, the Eagles will need to improve their ability to finish a set.
Freshman Amanda Carroll will continue to play a pivotal role in the postseason, leading the team on the offensive end. Similarly, outside hitter Eleonora Kazaran will be finishing her collegiate career strong, continuing to regularly earn double digit kills and aces in games.
Carroll and Kazaran will be matched at the net by Kennesaw’s opposite hitter, Anaiah Boyer, and outside hitter, Sydni Shelton.
Last year, FGCU fell in the first round of A­Sun Conference play to Jacksonville. This year is shaping up to be something different for the Eagles, despite again being seeded No. 2 in the conference. A stronger freshman class and consistent leaders on the floor show different team chemistry than prior years.