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

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – The USC Upstate volleyball team (1-0) opened the 2012 campaign Friday at UT Chattanooga's Comfort Inns & Suites Invitational, downing Tennessee Tech (0-1) in three sets by scores of 26-24, 25-17 and 25-13.

The Golden Eagles took the Spartans down to the wire in the first set, knotting things up at 24-24 after a two-point deficit when Upstate reached set point. A setting error by Tennessee Tech then moved the score to 25-24 as Upstate junior Amanda Carroll (Lake In The Hills, Ill.) went back to serve. The Golden Eagles sent Carroll's serve back to the Spartan side of the net, where senior Emily Sanders (Sullivan, Ill.) set sophomore Kayla McAvoy (Boiling Springs, S.C.) up for the kill to give Upstate the set victory.

The Spartans finished out the next two sets 25-17 and 25-13, sweeping Tennessee Tech 3-0 to win Upstate's third-straight season-opener.

"I'm proud of the team effort today," said Upstate head coach Jennifer Calloway. "Everyone worked at making something positive happen."

Freshman Kayla Eversgerd (Breese, Ill.) led the Spartans with 12 kills, while collecting seven digs. McAvoy added 10 kills on the day, leading the team in hitting percentage with a .474. Sanders posted 32 assists for the Upstate offensive effort, while recording five kills, six digs and two service aces.

The Golden Eagles were led by Natalie Penrod, who nearly had a double-double with 11 kills and nine digs. Ashleigh Lewis and Madison Comperry split the setting duties for Tennessee Tech, tallying 14 and 12 helpers, respectively. Courtney Smith paced the squad defensively with 15 digs on the day.

Upstate's defense was anchored by junior Libero Morgan Page (Woodstock, Ga.), scooping up 17 digs, while Carroll contributed six. Senior Emily Bingham (St. Petersburg, Fla.) registered six kills for the Spartans, while freshman Shannon Weiss (Highland, Ill.) posted five and senior Mindy Quimby (Keenesburg, Colo.) totaled four.

The Spartans return to action Saturday, taking on tournament host Chattanooga at 12:30 p.m. and Alcorn State at 5 p.m. Click here for tournament information and live stats.

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