FGCU men's, women's basketball release ASUN schedules; Chelsey Lockey competing with Team USA
The FGCU men's and women's basketball teams revealed their 2022-23 ASUN Conference schedules Thursday afternoon, via the ASUN's Twitter account.
The men, under first-year head coach Pat Chambers, will kick off their conference schedule with a New Year's Eve date against Jacksonville, while the women and Karl Smesko will host Liberty on Jan. 2 in what should be a pivotal contest to kick off conference play.
The women will look to build off a season where the team advanced to the Round of 32 in the NCAA Tournament, beating fifth-seeded Virginia Tech before falling to fourth-seeded Maryland. For much of the season, FGCU was ranked inside both the AP Top 25 and the USA Today Coaches Poll, while also seeing their first first-round pick in the WNBA Draft, when the Las Vegas Aces selected Kierstan Bell with the 11th pick.
The men, who finished 22-12 last season, made it to the ASUN Quarterfinals before falling to Bellarmine in what would be the end of the Michael Fly era after four years and a 56-60 record.
While much of the nonconference schedule has yet to be made public, Chambers and FGCU will take part in the Gulf Coast Showcase this fall at Hertz Arena, per Stadium's Jeff Goodman. Joining the Eagles in the field will be Drexel, East Carolina, Indiana State, Kansas City, Northern Kentucky, Toledo, and UT Arlington.
The Eagles will complete the final game of a three-year deal with former FGCU coach Andy Enfield and USC, as the team will head out to Los Angeles to play the Trojans in a season-opening game on Nov. 7.
Men's Basketball
Dec. 31 — vs. Jacksonville
Jan. 2 — at Central Arkansas
Jan. 5 — at Austin Peay
Jan. 7 — vs. North Florida
Jan. 12 — at Eastern Kentucky
Jan. 14 — at Bellarmine
Jan. 19 — vs. Jacksonville State
Jan. 21 — vs. Kennesaw State
Jan. 26 — at Queens
Jan. 28 — at Liberty
Feb. 2 — vs. Central Arkansas
Feb. 4 — vs. North Alabama
Feb. 9 — at North Florida
Feb. 11 — at Jacksonville
Feb. 16 — at Stetson
Feb. 18 — vs. Stetson
Feb. 22 — vs. Lipscomb
Feb. 24 — vs. Austin Peay
Women's Basketball
Jan. 2 — vs. Liberty
Jan. 5 — vs. Jacksonville
Jan. 7 — at North Alabama
Jan. 12 — vs. North Alabama
Jan. 14 — vs. Central Arkansas
Jan. 19 — at Queens
Jan. 21 — at Liberty
Jan. 26 — vs. Eastern Kentucky
Jan. 28 — vs. Bellarmine
Feb. 2 — at Jacksonville
Feb. 4 — at North Florida
Feb. 9 — vs. Stetson
Feb. 11 — at Stetson
Feb. 16 — vs. Lipscomb
Feb. 18 — vs. Austin Peay
Feb. 23 — at Kennesaw State
Feb. 25 — at Jacksonville State
March 1 — at Lipscomb
FGCU setter to train with USA Volleyball
Chelsey Lockey is in the midst of competing with elite company.
The setter, who will enter the fall as a senior, is in Anaheim, California this week to work with the USA Volleyball Women's Collegiate National Team after being selected to the squad in March. Lockey is one of 38 players who was chosen to take part in the program, which began on June 19th, and runs to the 25th.
"Chelsey's growth within the setting position over the past few years has been so gratifying to watch and that development continues daily. She is such a talented, hard-working player, so committed to her craft, and so eager to learn, it is no surprise that she has found herself amongst a group of the nation's elite," said head coach Matt Botsford in a release. "The opportunity to compete alongside our US National Team is a wonderful honor and I can't wait for her to showcase her talents in that in environment with the US Collegiate group.
"This is a proud moment for all of us within FGCU Volleyball program and we are so excited for Chelsey."
Lockey was an All-ASUN First Team selection in 2021 after being voted the ASUN Setter of the year in 2020. She ranked 48th in the nation in assists per set, and 51st in total assists.
Follow Southwest Florida Sports Writer Alex Martin on Twitter — @NP_AlexMartin. For the best sports coverage in Southwest Florida, follow @newspresssports and @ndnprepzone on Instagram.
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: FGCU basketball release ASUN schedules; Lockey competing with USA