Volleyball Claims First Win of the Season Over Upstate; Falls to NC A&T
BOONE, N.C. – The UNC Greensboro (UNCG) volleyball team claimed its first win of the season on Friday (3-0) against USC Upstate (25-22, 25-16, 25-23) for the team’s second match of the Black & Gold Classic. The Spartans dropped its first match of the day (3-0) against NC A&T (17-25, 27-29, 9-25).
HOW IT HAPPENED (NC A&T)
The Aggies’ Liselotte Spoormakers launched a kill to get her team on the board first in game one. NC A&T held the lead for the remainder of the set. The Spartans sparked a 4-0 run cutting the deficit to five, 18-13, in the midst of set one that was all due to errors from the Aggies. However, NC A&T was able to come away with the set, 25-17 after back-to-back kills from Hannah Howell and Madison Sanabria.
The Aggies continued its momentum into the second set by starting it off with a 4-0 run. NC A&T continued to lead for the majority of the second set until the Spartans chipped away to come back into set two. With the Spartans down 11-18, the team notched a 10-3 run over the Aggies to tie the set up at 21. A kill from Aylin Baran, followed by an error from NC A&T, gave the Spartans its first and only lead of the match at 23-22. The second set went back-and-forth, looking for a two-point decision. The set was tied five more times, before NC A&T secured the set with back-to-back kills from Hannah Howell and Chiara Napoli, 29-27.
The Aggies sparked an 8-1 run to start off the third and final set to keep the Spartans from leading in the remainder of the game. Back-to-back service aces from Ceci Carter finalized the third set for the Aggies, 25-9.
BY THE NUMBERS (NC A&T)
Baran led the Spartans with nine kills.
Mya Wood, Avery Sziksai and Valeria Calderon tallied 18 digs collectively.
Izora Gragg led the Spartans as the setter with 10 assists.
Madeline Timmerman and Lauren Janosy notched two blocks apiece.
Calderon, Sziksai and Wood all posted one service ace.
HOW IT HAPPENED (USC Upstate)
The first set was very close throughout with seven ties and four lead changes. However, the Spartans maintained control for the majority of game. With UNCG down by one (21-22), the squad notched a 4-0 run that was included by errors from Upstate and a kill from Jocelyn Carter. This final run gave UNCG set one, 25-22 for the team to win set one of a match for the first time this season.
UNCG continued its momentum into the second set to by starting it off with a 3-0 run thanks to two service aces from Timmerman and a kill from Carter. The score toggled back and fourth until Baran began a 9-2 run for UNCG giving the Spartans a 17-11 advantage. With UNCG down 8-9, a kill from Baran started a 9-2 run to put UNCG up 17-11 in set two. UNCG controlled the lead for the rest of the set. A final kill from Baran secured set two for the Blue & Gold, 25-16.
Upstate found its stride in the third set by starting things off with a 4-1 run. The Spartanburg, S.C. squad continued to hold this lead early on. However, with UNCG down 4-8, Timmerman recorded a kill that sparked a 5-1 run to tie the game at nine. Set three continued to go back-and-forth between the two teams. With UNCG down 18-20, the team recorded a 4-0 run to take the lead back and maintain control for the rest of the set. A final kill from Daija Jackson gave the Blue & Gold the third and final set, 25-23 to give the squad its first win on the 2023 campaign.
BY THE NUMBERS (USC Upstate)
Baran led the match with 11 kills.
Carter followed closely behind with nine kills.
Mallory Meers notched a double-double for the first time as a Spartan and 11th time in her career with 28 assists and 14 digs.
Wood followed closely behind with 10 digs.
Baran and Sziksai earned a new match high of three service aces.
Timmerman matched her match high of four service aces.
Records
UNCG: 1-7, 0-0, SoCon
North Carolina A&T: 2-5, 0-0, CAA
USC Upstate: 4-4, 0-0, Big South
Up Next
The Spartans will continue at the Black & Gold Classic on Saturday, September 9 by taking on App State at 2 p.m.
Emma White
Strategic Communications Coordinator
UNC Greensboro
App State Gets Past Volleyball, 3-0
BOONE, N.C. – The UNC Greensboro (UNCG) volleyball team dropped its final match of the Black & Gold Invitational to host school App State (3-0) on Saturday (15-25, 16-25, 12-25).
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Mountaineers gained an early advantage by starting set one off with a 6-0 run. Despite App State maintaining the lead for the remainder of the first set, the Spartans tallied an 8-2 run during the game. This run was mostly brought on by errors from the Mountaineers, while also seeing a kill from Aylin Baran and service ace from Avery Sziksai to pull UNCG back within three (11-14). However, App State quickly responded with an 8-1 run to increase its lead margin. After an error from UNCG at set point, App State claimed the first game, 25-15.
Set two was started by a service error from Valeria Calderon to spark a 4-0 run for the Mountaineers. App State held the lead for the remainder of game two. However, with the Spartans trailing 7-15, a kill from Lauren Janosy sparked a 7-2 run to put the team back within three (14-17). App State responded to add more to its lead. A final kill from Denny McCall gave the Mountaineers set two, 25-16.
The Spartans took its first lead of the match with a kill from Jocelyn Carter to get on the board first in set three. The third set was more of a close game early on seeing eight ties and three lead changes. However, with UNCG up 8-7, a kill from Lauren Pledger started an 8-1 run for App State to make the score 15-9. The Mountaineers held the lead for the rest of the third and final set. App State secured set three, 25-12 with a block assist from Ava Leahy and Lauren Pledger.
BY THE NUMBERS
Carter led the match with 14 kills for a new career high.
Mallory Meers had her 12th double-double of her career by leading the team with 22 assists and 11 digs.
Mya Wood followed closely behind with seven digs.
Madeline Timmerman had a .364 hitting percentage.
Records
UNCG: 1-8, 0-0, SoCon
App State: 9-0, 0-0, Sun Belt
Up Next
The Spartans will conclude its non-conference slate with the Spartan Tri-Match in Fleming Gymnasium for its home opener. UNCG will take on Charlotte on Friday, September 15 and UNC Asheville on Saturday, September 16. Both games will begin at 6:30 p.m.
Courtesy of Emma White
Strategic Communications Coordinator
UNC Greensboro