Florida Gulf Coast volleyball is back and is hoping to be better than ever. At Alico Arena, winning championships is becoming the norm. This era of FGCU volleyball has gotten used to contributing to the banners in the rafters.
"We're a team that's been very dominant in our conference, and we go into every season with a clean slate and just fighting for another championship," said Oreva Evivie, FGCU middle blocker.
The Eagles have celebrated back-to-back-to-back ASUN tournament championships, and the chance to defend those titles starts now.
"We're not really interested in just, 'let's make sure we get back there and sustain,'" said head volleyball coach Matt Botsford. "This is a group that thinks that they can surpass and exceed."
Nine of the 15 girls on the 2024 roster are returners, and have spent all summer long getting the new Eagles settled in their nest.
"We all came in in June," said Claire Ertel, FGCU senior DS/libero. "We helped, we hung out, we practiced together."
"It doesn't even feel like there's new people on our team," said Evivie. "Feels like we've known each other for a while."
Plus, getting them up to speed on what to expect - a target on their backs.
"We just kind of use that as motivation, of course," said Ertel. "But other than that, it's not like we're scared of it. We respect everyone, fear none."
FGCU is coming off a 15-1 conference record last season, and this fall, was picked as the second preseason favorite in the ASUN coaches poll. But the goal is to reach new heights.
"Just being relevant in the conference is never going to be enough for us," said Botsford. "We want to be a top 25 program across the nation, and we are really, really close. So I know this group is looking forward to trying to take that next step.
The Eagles begin the 2024 campaign on Friday at the FGCU Hilton Garden Inn Fort Myers Classic, facing North Dakota State.