Queen Notches 16 Kills As Upstate Shipwrecks Lady Bucs, 3-1
10/13/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Oct. 13, 2009
SPARTANBURG, S.C. - Led by 16 kills from sophomore Kelsie Queen (Blythewood, S.C./Ridge View) and a solid .294 hitting percentage, the USC Upstate volleyball team knocked off East Tennessee State University, 3-1 (25-13, 25-16, 17-25, 25-18) in Atlantic Sun Conference action on Tuesday at the Hodge Center. Queen finished with a .382 hitting percentage (16-3-34) while the team notched posted 53 kills in the four-set match.
"Kelsie's play really helped us so much," freshman Mindy Quimby said. "She was just really smart with the ball. She knew when to swing and she didn't have to tip a lot, but it was smart when she did because it mixed up her shots."
The Spartans (6-14 overall, 2-9 A-Sun) also got solid play from Quimby (Keenesburg, Colo./Weld Central), who posted seven kills, 11 digs and tied a career-high with four aces. Freshman Emily Sanders (Sullivan, Ill./Sullivan) added two kills, 23 assists and nine digs and junior Katie Downey (Belleville, Ill./Belleville West) added seven kills, two assists, two aces, five digs and two blocks. Sophomore Morgan Thomas (Plantation, Fla./St. Thomas Aquinas) added nine kills and three blocks and junior Erin Jacobsen (Virginia, Minn./Iowa Lakes C.C.) added seven kills and three blocks. Senior Morgan Bucciferro (Joliet, Ill./Minooka Community) added three kills and 20 assists and junior Megan Healey (St. Louis, Mo./Ursuline Academy) tied a match high with 11 digs.
"We had a really competitive practice (Monday)," Queen said, "and I think that carried over. We just really wanted a conference win, especially after going to Tennessee (to face conference leaders Lipscomb and Belmont) last weekend. We knew we could beat this team and we wanted an upset in conference play."
In the fourth set, the two teams stayed close early after Upstate took a 7-2 lead after an ETSU attack error as the Bucs (6-13 overall, 5-6 A-Sun) closed within two points at 10-8. Quimby answered with a kill and Healey followed with an ace, as Upstate built its lead to 16-9 after two points on a serve by Sanders. The Spartans kept the pressure on, going up 22-13 after another kill by Downey. The Bucs rallied to close within five at 23-18, but a kill by Quimby and an attack error closed the set, giving Upstate a 25-18 fourth-set win and the Spartans' first in school history against the Bucs at the Hodge Center.
The two teams battled out of the gate, with Upstate taking a 10-6 lead, but ETSU coming back within a point at 12-11. From there, a kill by Downey ignited a seven straight points by Upstate, with six coming off the serve of Quimby. A kill by Queen, a block by Jacobsen and Downey and an ace highlighted the run which gave Upstate a 19-11 lead. The Spartans kept momentum as they went on for a 25-13 first set win, thanks to the team's hefty .481 (15-2-27) hitting percentage in the stanza.
"We came out with a lot of energy and that really helped us play better," Quimby said. "It gave us a little extra motivation."
In the second set, Queen posted three kills early, helping the Spartans take a 9-4 lead after an ace by Downey. The Bucs got no closer than four points the rest of the way, as Quimby served for three points, posting another ace to make it 17-8. Queen led the way in the set, posting five kills, while Healey had seven of her 11 digs in the set.
"We all came out aggressive," Queen said, "and we all had so much trust in each other. We didn't have to worry about the person behind us. We knew we were going to be there for the jobs we were supposed to do."
The Bucs forced a fourth set thanks to a .500-hitting effort (17-2-30) in the third set, as the Bucs broke an 11-11 tie by closing the set on a 14-6 run.
ETSU was led by Alysa Long, who posted 11 kills and six blocks. Amanda Youell added 33 assists, seven digs and four blocks. Jen Niece and Desiree Dyck each added 11 digs and Dyck also added eight kills.
The Spartans get back on the court on Saturday when they travel to Campbell for an A-Sun match 3 p.m.
