SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The USC Upstate volleyball team (7-15, 2-6 A-Sun) fell to Atlantic Sun Conference opponent Kennesaw State (10-12, 5-2 A-Sun) 3-1 tonight in the Hodge Center by scores of 25-19, 22-25, 25-16 and 25-14.  

The Spartans were led offensively by senior Morgan Thomas (Plantation, Fla.), registering 15 kills, followed by junior Mindy Quimby (Keenesburg, Colo.) with 12 kills. Quimby added seven digs as sophomore Morgan Page (Woodstock, Ga.) posted a team-high 24 digs. Page's classmate Paige Weiland (Atlanta, Ga.) was next on the squad with 11 digs.

Freshman Kayla McAvoy (Boiling Springs, S.C.) led the Spartan charge at the net with three blocks, including two solo rejections. The rookie also tallied seven kills for the night, while junior Emily Sanders (Sullivan, Ill.) dished out 38 assists and collected nine digs.

Kennesaw State was led by Justine Young's 21 kills and Alyssa Lang's double-double of 16 kills and 24 digs. Emily Bean helped the Owls with 15 digs, while Camille Pedraza contributed 10. Sara Metroka handed out 47 assists on the night for KSU.

KSU holds a 5-2 advantage overall against Upstate with a 3-1 mark in the Hodge Center. The Owls won the last meeting 3-1 in Kennesaw, Ga., Nov. 6, 2010. The Spartans square off again with the Owls Oct. 29 at KSU.

Upstate is back in action tomorrow, hosting Mercer at 3 p.m. Follow the Spartans this season on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.