Upstate Closes Out Regular Season Play with Southern Swing
11/7/2012 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Katie Parker, kparker@uscupstate.edu
SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The USC Upstate volleyball team (11-17, 6-10 A-Sun) wraps up the regular season with three road matches this weekend, traveling to Savannah State, before visiting Atlantic Sun Conference opponents Jacksonville and North Florida.
THE COMPETITION:
Tiger Tales: The Spartans travel to Savannah State Thursday for a 6 p.m. nonconference contest. Upstate owns a 4-0 advantage against the Tigers, including a 1-0 mark in Savannah. SSU is currently in a 59-match-losing streak with the team's last win coming Nov. 4, 2010 in a 3-0 decision at Paine College.
Dolphin Data: Upstate heads to the Sunshine State Friday for a 7 p.m. A-Sun match-up at Jacksonville with A-Sun tournament bids on the line. JU holds a 6-2 record against Upstate with a 3-0 advantage in Jacksonville, Fla. Earlier this season, the Spartans downed the Dolphins 3-0 (25-22, 25-17, 27-25) in the Hodge Center Oct. 13. JU ranks third in the A-Sun in blocks, averaging 1.77 per set.
Osprey Outlook: The Spartans close out A-Sun competition Saturday, facing North Florida at 3 p.m. The Ospreys lead the all-time series against the Spartans 28-5, including a 15-1 record in Jacksonville. UNF edged Upstate 3-2 (25-23, 23-25, 24-26, 25-21, 16-14) earlier this season inside the Hodge Oct. 12. North Florida is second in league play in service aces, averaging 1.34 per set, while ranking third in digs (16.82 dps) and assists (12.98 aps).
QUICK HITS:
• The Spartans recorded their 11th win this season Nov. 2 with a 3-0 victory over Stetson for the most wins in a season in three years for Upstate. The Spartans turned in an 11-23 record in 2008. The program went 8-22 in 2009, 10-18 in 2010 and 8-21 in 2011.
• Upstate paces the league in service aces in all matches and in A-Sun play, averaging 1.44 aces per set against all opponents and 1.44 aces per set in conference competition.
• The Spartans rank 23rd in digs per set (17.63 dps) in the most recent NCAA National Ranking Summary and 30th in aces per set.
• Freshman Lexi Gober leads the conference in A-Sun play in service aces with 0.40 per set, while senior Emily Sanders ranks second in league play in digs per set with 4.81.
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