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

 Box Score (PDF)

BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – The USC Upstate volleyball team (4-9) dropped a 3-1 decision at Gardner-Webb (6-12) Tuesday evening by scores of 25-23, 25-17, 17-25 and 25-16.

The Spartans kept the first set close, tying things up at 23-23 after come back from a three-point deficit. However, a Gardner-Webb kill and an Upstate attack error ended the first set, giving the Runnin' Bulldogs a 25-23 victory.

GWU took a four-point lead early in the second set and maintained that margin throughout the first half of the game. The Runnin' Bulldogs extended their lead during the second portion of the set, eventually claiming a 25-17 win and giving Gardner-Webb a 2-0 lead at the intermission.

Upstate came back from the break ready to swing, taking a 4-0 lead at the start of the third set as freshman Kayla Eversgerd (Breese, Ill.) recorded a kill and freshman Shannon Weiss (Highland, Ill.) registered back-to-back kills. The Spartans kept the momentum for the remainder of the set, earning a 25-17 victory.

The Runnin' Bulldogs took a 2-1 advantage into the fourth set. Despite several scrambling hustle plays, the Spartans were never able to establish their footing in the fourth game and GWU took a 25-16 set victory for the 3-1 match win.  

On the night, the Spartans were led by Eversgerd, tallying 13 kills and 15 digs. This marked the freshman's third double-double of the season. Senior Emily Bingham (St. Petersburg, Fla.) was second on the squad with nine kills, while her classmate Mindy Quimby (Keenesburg, Colo.) added eight kills to go along with six digs. Sophomore Kayla McAvoy (Boiling Springs, S.C.) and Weiss registered seven and six kills, respectively.

Upstate senior Emily Sanders (Sullivan, Ill.) handed out 24 assists, while scooping up eight digs. Sanders split the setting duties with freshman Lexi Gober (Edwardsville, Ill.), who dished out 15 assists and picked-up six digs. Junior Morgan Page (Woodstock, Ga.) rounded out the double-figures for the Spartans, collecting 15 digs.

The Runnin' Bulldogs were led by Tyler Cockrell, posting 17 kills and four total blocks. She was helped by teammates Emily Holte and Carol Solano with nine and eight kills, respectively.

Heather Feldman paced Gardner-Webb with a double-double of 41 kills and 11 digs. Defensively the club was led by libero Anna Pashkova, gathering a match-high 23 digs. Dominique Bray contributed with a seven-dig effort.

The Spartans return to Atlantic Sun Conference action Friday, traveling to Stetson for a 7 p.m. contest.

Follow Upstate volleyball this season on your mobile device, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.