FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Katie Parker, kparker@uscupstate.edu

Box Score (PDF)

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The USC Upstate volleyball team (11-16, 6-9 A-Sun) dropped a 3-0 decision to Atlantic Sun Conference leader Florida Gulf Coast University (20-8, 15-1 A-Sun) Saturday inside the Hodge Center by scores of 25-22, 25-19 and 25-21.

The Spartans were led by sophomore Kayla McAvoy (Boiling Springs, S.C.), tallying 11 kills for her 19th double-digit kill outing this season. Freshman Jaina Jackson (Huntley, Ill.) was second on the team with eight kills to go along with two digs and two assisted blocks. Freshman Kayla Eversgerd (Breese, Ill.) added five kills and collected six digs.

Freshman Lexi Gober (Edwardsville, Ill.) anchored the Upstate offense, dishing out 27 assists to go along with five digs and two kills. Senior Emily Sanders (Sullivan, Ill.) scooped up a match-high 11 digs, while freshman Shannon Weiss (Highland, Ill.) recorded eight digs and four kills.

FGCU was led by a pair of hitters, posting double-digit kills as Kaitlin Holm paced the squad with a match-high 14 kills. Jill Hopper was second on the team, turning in a double-double of 10 kills and 11 digs. Olivia Mesner helped with seven kills, while Christine Pinder had 10 digs and Whitney Masters had nine digs.

Gigi Meyer quarterbacked the Eagle offense, handing out 21 assists and gathering five digs. Courtney Greenberg helped with the setting duties, registering 13 assists.

The Eagles' defensive effort at the net shut down the Spartan offense as FGCU out blocked Upstate 10 total blocks to three. Karina Mambuca rejected a match-high seven total blocks, while Holm contributed five denials on the day. Hopper and Mesner registered three and two blocks, respectively.  

The Spartans return to A-Sun action Tuesday, Nov. 6, hosting Mercer at 6 p.m. for Upstate's Dig Pink Night. Follow Upstate volleyball this season on your mobile device, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.