UNCG Volleyball Downs ETSU in Five-Set Thriller
GREENSBORO, N.C. – The UNC Greensboro (UNCG) volleyball team took down the Bucs of ETSU on Tuesday night, 3-2, (25-18, 16-25, 25-15, 23-25, 15-12) in Bodford Arena, improving its win streak to seven in The Southern Conference (SoCon) action play.
With the win over ETSU, the Spartans improve to 16-7 overall and 9-3 in the SoCon. The last time UNCG secured seven-straight SoCon wins was in the 2017 season, as that team notched seven consecutive wins to conclude the regular season.
In addition, the last time the Spartans notched a seven-match win streak overall was in the 2021 campaign as that team posted eight straight wins. The 2021 season was also the last time UNCG captured a victory over ETSU until today’s 3-2 win.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Set 1 – ETSU opened with a 2-0 lead and stretched the margin to 9-5. UNCG answered with five straight points, tying the score at nine and then moving ahead 10-9 on a block by Connore’ Siler-Nixon and Izora Gragg. After the teams traded points to 14-14, Siena Smiejek served an ace during a four-point Spartan run. Siler-Nixon’s kill capped the stretch and UNCG went on to take the set, 25-18.
Set 2 – The Spartans took an early 1-0 lead, but ETSU moved in front and built its advantage to 7-4. The Bucs extended the margin to 16-8 with a run that included two service aces. UNCG put together a three-point stretch later in the set, with kills from Allie Sweet and Siler-Nixon helping cut into the deficit, but ETSU held on for a 25-16 win.
Set 3 – The teams stayed close early in set three. However, UNCG then scored three straight points to take a 12-9 lead, including kills by Sweet and Hailey Clifton. After ETSU pulled within 13-12, the Spartans answered with five consecutive points. Kendall Lanclos and Siler-Nixon each contributed kills during the run, helping UNCG pull away for a 25-15 set victory.
Set 4 – UNCG moved ahead 2-0 and later built a 14-9 lead. ETSU chipped away, then used a five-point run to turn a 14-17 deficit into a 19-17 advantage. The Spartans fought back to tie the score at 19 and again at 21 and 22, but ETSU took the final three points to win the set, 25-23.
Set 5 – ETSU scored the first two points and led 7-3. UNCG rallied with four straight points to tie the set at seven, including a pair of blocks involving Clifton and Smiejek. The Bucs regained a two-point lead, but the Spartans answered to go ahead, 11-9. ETSU tied it at 11 before Smiejek’s kill and two more UNCG points put the Spartans at match point. Siler-Nixon finished it with a kill for the 15-12 win.
BY THE NUMBERS
Sweet recorded her 38th career double-double and 15th of the season after leading the match with 24 kills and adding 13 digs.
Gragg was the leading setter in the match, notching 50 assists.
Chloe Nussbaum paced the contest with 20 digs.
Siler-Nixon led the match with seven blocks, while Smiejek added six.
Hailey Clifton and Gragg added five blocks apiece, while Sweet chipped in four. Clifton’s five blocks marked a new career-best for the freshman.
Three Spartans reached double-figure kills, including Sweet with 24, Lanclos with 16 and Siler-Nixon with 12.
RECORDS
UNCG: 16-7, 9-3 SoCon
ETSU: 9-14, 7-5 SoCon
UP NEXT
The Spartans will travel to Greenville, South Carolina, to face the Furman Paladins on Friday at 6:00 p.m. and Saturday at 7:00 p.m. inside Timmons Arena.
Emma White
Strategic Communications Coordinator
UNC Greensboro