Upstate Falls To Presbyterian, 3-0
9/22/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Sept. 22, 2009
CLINTON, S.C. - Sophomore Morgan Thomas (Plantation, Fla./St. Thomas Aquinas) led the USC Upstate volleyball team with a stout performance of 15 kills and six blocks, including a remarkable run of seven kills in as many touches, but the USC Upstate volleyball team fell victim to a 47-kill attack from Presbyterian College, as the Blue Hose managed a 3-0 (25-17, 25-21, 32-30) win on Tuesday night in non-conference action at the Templeton Arena.
In a wild back-and-forth affair, the Spartans (3-11 overall) took a 24-21 lead in the third set with three straight points. A sneak attack kill by senior Morgan Bucciferro (Joliet, Ill./Minooka Community) was followed by a block from senior Katie Downey (Belleville, Ill./Belleville West) and Thomas and a PC attack error. However, the Blue Hose (5-9 overall) answered back by converting on three straight set points and from there, the teams traded sideouts and opportunities to take the set until the Blue Hose converted two straight points to take the set 32-30.
Thomas started the third set with her seventh kill in a row, and added six kills in the set. The two teams battled evenly throughout the set, with neither team holding more than three-point lead at any point.
Upstate fell behind 8-4 in the first set, as Lisa Shelley posted two kills during the run. The Spartans stayed within four points at 20-16, but Amanda Kettles used two kills to close the set on a 5-1 run for the Blue Hose. Sophomore Morgan Thomas (Plantation, Fla./St. Thomas Aquinas) and freshman Paige Weiland (Atlanta, Ga./Marist School) each had three kills in the set for Upstate.
The Blue Hose closed the second set on a 14-8 run to take the set 25-21. The Spartans took a 13-11 lead after a block by sophomore Kelsie Queen (Blythewood, S.C./Ridge View) and junior Erin Jacobsen (Virginia, Minn./Iowa Lakes C.C.). The Blue Hose responded with three straight points capped by a service ace by Ashley Dunlap. From there, the two teams battled back and forth, with a kill by Jacobsen making the score 22-21, but the Blue Hose closed the set with three straight kills to take the 2-0 lead.
The set-ending run by the Blue Hose spoiled a rather remarkable second set by Thomas, who notched six kills in as many attempts and added three blocks with partner-in-crime Downey for a total of 7.5 points.
Freshman Emily Sanders (Sullivan, Ill./Sullivan) posted 20 assists and sophomore Megan Healey (St. Louis, Mo./Ursuline Academy) added 12 digs for the Spartans. Jacobsen notched a match-high seven blocks, including three solo rejections.
The Blue Hose were led by Kilee Ruppe, who notched 39 assists, five kills and five digs. Presley Mabrey led the team with 12 kills and Lisa Shelley notched 10 kills and 10 digs. Elizabeth Heineman also added 20 digs and Amanda Kettles finished with eight kills and five blocks.
The Spartans are back in action on Friday as they host Atlantic Sun Conference foe Campbell at 7 p.m. at the Hodge Center.
