Volleyball Falls in Heartbreaker to UNC Asheville
GREENSBORO, N.C. – The UNC Greensboro (UNCG) volleyball team took a five-set heartbreaking loss to UNC Asheville on Saturday night (25-27, 25-23, 25-17, 17-25, 9-15) to close out the Spartan Tri-Match and the squad’s final non-conference game.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Back-to-back kills from UNC Asheville’s, Albertine Goot allowed the Bulldogs to gain the lead first in the match. Although the set tied on a few occasions early on, the Bulldogs held UNCG from taking the lead until late in the set. With the set tied at 17, a kill from Daija Jackson gave the Spartans its first lead of the game. The remainder of set one continued to go back and forth. However, with the set tied at 25, kills from Kylie Cackovic and Matilde Teixeria gave UNC Asheville set one, 27-25.
A solo block from Baylor Herlehy started a 6-1 run for the Bulldogs to keep UNCG from taking the lead until late. However, with the score 20-16 in favor of the Bulldogs, UNCG scored five-straight points to take the lead The Spartans never allowed UNC Asheville to take the lead again in the rest of the second set. An attack error from UNC Asheville, followed by a service ace from Madeline Timmerman gave UNCG set two, 25-23.
With kills from Aylin Baran and Jackson, the Spartans notched two-straight points to begin set three. Despite the set tying a few times, the Spartans never allowed the Bulldogs to take the lead in the third set. UNCG led by as much as eight in the third game. A final kill from Jackson gave the Spartans set three, 25-17.
The Bulldogs bounced back in set four to start things off with a 5-1 run to never allow the Spartans to lead in the fourth set. A 2-0 run that saw a kill from Matilde Teixeira and an attack error from UNCG, gave UNC Asheville the fourth set, 25-17.
Baran got the Spartans on the board first in the fifth set with a kill coming off the hands of Izora Gragg. However, UNC Asheville responded with an 8-1 run to maintain control for the remainder of the final set. A service error from UNCG gave the Bulldogs set five, 9-15.
BY THE NUMBERS
Baran led the Spartans by notching a new match high of 27 kills. This was the first time since 2012 a Spartan posted 27 or more kills in a match. Olivia Humphries collected 27 kills against Furman on Oct. 19, 2012.
Baran’s 27 kills on Saturday leaves her tied at seventh in kills per game in UNCG volleyball history.
Hallie Cook recorded a new career high with in kills and blocks with 10 and three, respectively.
Avery Sziksai and Mya Wood led with three service aces apiece.
Wood also led the way with 18 digs.
Timmerman added a new career high of 14 digs.
Gragg notched a new career high of 31 assists.
As a team, UNCG led the way with 32 kills, 65 digs, eight service aces and 58 assists.
Records
UNCG: 1-10, 0-0, SoCon
UNC Asheville: 6-7, 0-0, Big South
Up Next
UNCG will begin The Southern Conference (SoCon) slate on the road next week. The Spartans will face Samford on Friday, Sept. 22 at 8 p.m. EST / 7 p.m. CST, followed by a matchup to Mercer on Saturday, Sept. 23 at 6 p.m.
Courtesy of Emma White
Strategic Communications Coordinator
UNC Greensboro