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

CHARLESTON, S.C. – The USC Upstate volleyball team (2-2) dropped a 3-2 decision at the Willie Jewell's Volleyball Invitational to tournament host Charleston Southern (2-3) by scores of 25-23, 12-25, 25-17, 25-27 and 15-4.

In the first set, Upstate managed to pull within one after being down 24-20, but a kill from Sydney Tracy allowed the Buccaneers to edge the Spartans 25-23. The Spartans charged back in the second set, winning 25-12, but dropped the third set 25-17. The Spartans held things together in an extended fourth set to claim the 27-25 victory. However, Upstate could keep the momentum going in the final set as the team fell 15-4 in the fifth.

The Spartans were led by senior Emily Sanders (Sullivan, Ill.), registering her third double-double of the season with 42 assists and 17 digs. Senior Mindy Quimby (Keenesburg, Colo.) recorded a match-high 16 kills to go along with nine digs and three assisted blocks, while classmate Emily Bingham (St. Petersburg, Fla.) added 15 kills. Sophomore Kayla McAvoy (Boiling Springs, S.C.) contributed 12 kills, three assisted blocks and two service aces.

Junior Morgan Page (Woodstock, Ga.) scooped up a match-high 20 digs to pace the Upstate defense, while freshman Lexi Gober (Edwardsville, Ill.) recorded nine digs. Page also handed out four assists, while freshman Kayla Eversgerd (Breese, Ill.) had five digs.

Despite posting 52 kills compared to Charleston Southern's 44, Upstate lost contest swinging with 38 attack errors compared to CSU's 22. The Spartans had a hitting percentage of just 8.7, while the Buccaneers hit 16.9 percent. Upstate also recorded one more service error than CSU (12-11).

The Buccaneers were led by Sydney Tracy with 13 kills and Katrina Houston with 11 kills, while Cassidy Greer paced the squad with 25 assists. Ashley Higgenbothem and Siraya Windsor helped the team defensively with 19 and 11 digs, respectively. Kirsten Struksnes flirted with a double-double, tallying 10 assists and nine digs.

The Spartans wrap-up play at the Willie Jewell's Invitational Saturday, taking on Furman at 11:30 a.m. and Canisius at 4:30 p.m. Follow the action on live stats by clicking here.  

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