Box Score SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The USC Upstate volleyball team (7-17) closed out its four-match homestand at the Hodge Center tonight, dropping a 3-1 decision to non-conference foe Presbyterian College (9-16) by scores of 31-29, 25-19, 26-28 and 25-19.
The Spartans were led by senior Morgan Thomas (Plantation, Fla.) with 18 kills, hitting .378 percent on the night. Senior Kelsie Queen (Blythewood, S.C.) and junior Mindy Quimby (Keenesburg, Colo.) helped the offensive effort with 11 kills each.
Senior Emily Sanders (Sullivan, Ill.) dished out 46 assists for Upstate, while collecting 11 digs for her 12th double-double of the season. The setter also tallied a career-high eight kills on the night. Sanders is the A-Sun's active leader in career-assists with 2,275. She ranks sixth in Upstate history, passing Holly Mauldin's (2005-08) mark of 2,045. She is three assists away from Lisa Wilson's (1989-92) fifth-place notch of 2,278 and four assists shy of Morgan Bucciferro's (2006-09) fourth-place mark of 2,279.
Defensively, the Spartans were led by sophomore Morgan Page (Woodstock, Ga.), posting a career-high 30 digs. Page's classmate Paige Weiland (Atlanta, Ga.) contributed 11 digs.
Presbyterian was led by a pair of double-doubles from Caroline Cann and Presley Mabrey. Cann recorded 17 kills and 12 digs, while Mabrey had 14 kills to go along with 11 digs. Allison Brown and Rachel Hall added 13 and 11 kills, respectively. Ashtin Frank handed out 52 assists for the Blue Hose, while Mary Trimpe scooped up a team-high 22 digs.
Upstate leads the all-time series 29-23 against Presbyterian, including a 13-8 mark in the Hodge. In the teams' most recent meeting, the Blue Hose claimed a 3-0 victory at home Sept. 22, 2009.
Upstate is back in action Saturday, Oct. 29, traveling to Atlantic Sun Conference opponent Kennesaw State for a 3 p.m. match. Follow the Spartans this season on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
