Oct. 21, 2008

Final Stats

SPARTANBURG, S.C. - Thanks to three triple-digit kill performances, including a career-high breakout 15-kill performance from freshman Kelsie Queen (Blythewood, S.C./Ridge View), the USC Upstate volleyball team was able to overcome a gritty The Citadel club, 3-1 (25-19, 26-24, 21-25, 25-22), on Tuesday night at the Hodge Center.

Queen shattered her previous best of nine kills with her 15 on Tuesday night, as the freshman hit a hefty .500 (15-2-26) and added three digs. Senior Jovana Lubura (Belgrade, Serbia/New Mexico Military Institute) added 16 kills and 10 digs for her second straight double-double and sophomore Sandra Campbell (Orlando, Fla./Pilot Point (Texas)) added 14 kills and hit .303 for Upstate (7-14 overall), which hit a Division I-record .299 (63-16-157) for a four-set match.

The Spartans got several solid performances with sophomore Megan Healey (St. Louis, Mo./Ursuline Academy) notching a season-high 19 digs and two aces and freshman Jane Hawryliw (North Battleford, Saskatchewan/North Battleford) posting eight digs and three aces. Senior Holly Mauldin (Columbia, S.C./Irmo) added 36 assists, three kills and seven digs.

The Spartans and Bulldogs fought to a 14-14 tie in the fourth set before back-to-back attack errors gave Upstate a 16-14 lead. The Spartans never let the Bulldogs closer than one and Queen posted four kills in the final 11-8 run. Campbell also added two kills in the run and freshman Morgan Thomas (Plantation, Fla./St. Thomas Aquinas) notched the final kill to seal the win.

Upstate was spurred by a kill from Lubura and two from Queen to help Upstate take a 7-5 lead in the first set. From there, the Spartans were able to get the lead to five points at 12-7 before the Bulldogs (6-16 overall) closed to within two at 16-14 after a kill from Rachel Sanders. Upstate answered with kills from Lubura and Campbell though, and the hot-hitting Spartans closed the set on a 9-5 run. The Spartans hit a scorching .548 (19-2-31) in the set.

With the score tied at six in the second set, Upstate went on a 3-1 run to take a 10-7 lead, but the Bulldogs fought back to take a 14-13 lead after a kill from Blaine McAlister. Back-to-back kills from Lubura gave Upstate a slim lead and a tug-of-war between the two teams ensued with a Sanders kill tying the set at 19 before an attack error and a kill from Jessica Maas gave The Citadel a 21-19 lead. The Spartans responded with a kill from Campbell and two Bulldog attack errors gave Upstate a 22-21 lead before Sanders and Tatum Jestilla posted back-to-back kills, fiving The Citadel a 23-22 lead. An attack error tied the score and a kill from Mauldin gave Upstate the lead before The Citadel's Maas forced a sideout to tie the score at 24. A kill from Lubura helped propel Upstate to the 26-24 win on the next point.

With the score tied at 10 in the third set, the Bulldogs used a 6-1 run to take a 16-11 lead that was more than Upstate could overcome. The Spartans drew within one at 19-18 after a kill from Queen, but Maas answered with three kills in the final seven The Citadel points, leading to the 25-21 win.

Maas led the Bulldogs with 19 kills and eight digs and Sanders added 16 kills and 14 digs. Emily Hill posted 38 assists and 15 digs and Jestilla notched nine kills and 19 digs. Amanda Beal added seven kills and five blocks.

Upstate gets back into action on Friday night as it hosts Stetson in a match at 7 p.m. in the Hodge Center. The match is Upstate's Dig For The Cure match, with donations being accepted for the Upstate Chapter of Komen For The Cure both during the match and online at UpstateSpartans.com.