FORT MYERS, Fla. – Riding a three-match winning streak, the Florida Gulf Coast volleyball team will host ETSU and USC Upstate in Atlantic Sun Conference action this weekend.

The Eagles (7-7, 3-0 A-Sun) will face the Lady Bucs (10-6, 1-1 A-Sun) at 6 p.m. on Friday, followed by a Saturday evening (7 p.m.) matchup with the Spartans (4-9 overall, 0-2 A-Sun).

FGCU is off to a 3-0 start in conference play for the fifth time in the last six years. The Eagles’ numbers are up across the board in conference play, the most noticeable being in kills per set (+2.6), assists per set (+2.53) and digs per set (+3.0). The Green and Blue have won all four matches with ETSU and USC Upstate in Alico Arena since joining the A-Sun in 2007, including 3-1 victories over both squads in 2011.

FGCU has six players that have registered between 50 and 105 kills so far this season, led by junior Christine Pinder’s (Gainesville, Fla./Buchholz HS/Houston/Central Florida CC) team-leading 103. Sophomore Whitney Masters (Muncie, Ind./Wapahani HS) leads the team with 148 digs (3.02/set), while the setting duo of sophomore Gigi Meyer (Gainesville, Fla./Buchholz HS) and junior Courtney Greenberg (Fort Myers, Fla./Fort Myers HS/Juniata College) has run the FGCU offense, averaging 5.27 assists and 3.90 assists per set, respectively. Sophomore Olivia Mesner (Boca Raton, Fla./ Spanish River HS) leads the team and ranks second in the conference in total blocks (53).

Along with updates on twitter @FGCU_VB and @FGCUEagles, fans can also get volleyball updates from around the Atlantic Sun by using the hashtag #ASUNVB.

Friday, September 28
FGCU vs. ETSU, 6 p.m.
Series Information: FGCU leads 5-2

Saturday, September 29
FGCU vs. USC Upstate, 7 p.m.
Series Information: FGCU leads 7-0

SCOUTING THE BUCS
After dropping its conference-opener at Mercer, the Lady Bucs bounced back with a 3-0 (25-20, 25-23, 25-15) sweep of USC Upstate on Friday, Sept. 21. ETSU moved sophomore setter Jamie Rutledge to libero for the first two sets and the second-year player finished with 12 digs, an assist and a service ace, while Ivey Rice and Megan Devine tallied double-doubles.

The Bucs are 1-4 on the road this season and have lost their last four matches in Fort Myers.

ETSU leads the A-Sun in blocks in conference play, averaging 2.83 pet set. Meredith Hardy (1.50/set) and Khadijah Wiley (1.33/set) are the conference leaders in that category, while offensively Megan Devine leads the A-Sun in kills (4.50/set).

The Eagles hold a 5-2 lead in the all-time series over ETSU. The last time these two teams met in Alico Arena, Jessica Barnes (Winter Haven, Fla./Haines City HS) and Jelena Simic recorded 25 kills and 20 kills, respectively, as the Eagles defeated the Lady Bucs, 3-1 (31-29, 26-24, 31-33, 25-21).

SCOUTING THE SPARTANS
The Spartans, losers of three consecutive matches, are still searching for their first road win of the season (0-6 on the road in 2012).

The Spartans’ Kayla McAvoy is third in the A-Sun in hitting pct. (.455) and fourth in kills (3.86 per set).

The Eagles hold a 7-0 lead in the all-time series over USC Upstate and have only dropped two sets to the Spartans in the seven meetings between the teams. The last time these two squads met in Fort Myers, the Eagles hit .357 as a team, en route to defeating the Spartans, 3-1 (26-28, 25-22, 25-11, 25-22).