Spartans Swoop In For Sweep Of Eagles
10/20/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Spartanburg, S.C. – Three USC Upstate attacking players reached double figures in kills as the Spartans took a three-game sweep from North Carolina Central in non-conference volleyball action Wednesday night. The Spartans won by scores of 25-18, 25-18 and 25-20.
Upstate improved to 8-14 on the year with the win. The Spartans will take a week off from competition before returning to the court next Wednesday at North Carolina A&T. N.C. Central fell to 6-21 with the loss.
The trio of Katie Downey (Belleville, Ill.), Cori Harris (Champaign, Ill.) and Morgan Thomas (Jr., Plantation, Fla.) each tallied double figure kill totals on the night to lead the Upstate cause. Downey led the way with 11, while Harris and Thomas each recorded 10. Emily Sanders (Sullivan, Ill.) helped with a match-high 37 assists, while Harris led the squad with nine digs. Megan Healey (St. Louis, Mo.) recorded seven digs and is just one shy from moving into third place on Upstate's all-time list. She now has 1,432 in her career.
Upstate used a decisive run midway through the frame to take the win in the first set. The set was tied at 10-10 before N.C. Central opened a 12-10 lead. Upstate scored the next five points and outscored the Eagles 12-4 to open a commanding 22-16 lead. N.C. Central fought back within four, 22-18, but Upstate scored the final three points of the frame to take the win. Downey had four kills and Harris and Thomas each tallied three to lead the Spartans in the set.
The second set remained close until Upstate made a small run midway through to take the 25-18 win. With the set tied at 10-10, Upstate scored three-straight points to build a 13-10 lead. The Spartans maintained a lead no smaller than three points the rest of the way. Leading 18-15, the Spartans scored two points in a row to open a five-point advantage and cruised to the win. Downey had five kills to pace the Spartans in the frame. Upstate also hit .346 in the set, recording 14 kills on five errors and 26 attempts.
The third set was nip-and-tuck until late in the frame. Upstate opened a 12-9 lead before N.C. Central fought back to outscore the Spartans 6-2 to open a 16-14 lead. Upstate, though, would have nothing of an Eagle win and scored six-straight points to open a 20-16 lead. The Eagles would never recover as Upstate went on for the 25-20 win in the set and the victory in the match. Thomas and Mindy Quimby (Keenesburg, Colo.) each had five kills in the set to lead Upstate.
Belinda Behncke-Biney led N.C. Central with 10 kills and 2 blocks. Jzima-Malaki Kalao led the Eagles with 21 assists, while Alexis John tallied 13 digs.
