Game Box (PDF)

Asheville, N.C. – USC Upstate turned in a strong effort at UNC Asheville Tuesday night and despite having three players reach double figures in kill totals, took a 3-1 loss from the Bulldogs in non-conference volleyball action in the Justice Center.

Kayla Eversgerd led all players with 19 kills on the night. Emily Koelling added 15 kills, while Alexa Lagaly tallied 10. Upstate (1-11) will take two days off from competition before heading back to the court Friday night at A-Sun foe Lipscomb in Nashville, Tenn. UNCA improved to 10-6 on the year with the win.

Upstate and UNCA engaged in a thrilling first set to set the tone for the match. In a battle that saw the teams go back and forth to the tune of 21 ties and nine lead changes, neither team led by as many as two points the entire set.

After battling for control throughout the first set, Upstate was on the verge of winning the frame when Javon Gates put a kill down to give the Spartans a 24-22 lead. However, UNCA fought back with two straight points and the teams continued to battle. After Upstate opened three leads, UNCA evened the match each time. With the set tied at 29-29, the Bulldogs rattled off two straight points to take the win, 31-29.

UNCA rode the emotion of the first set win into the second set and separated itself from Upstate late in the frame to take a 2-0 lead in the match. Upstate opened a 7-3 advantage early in the set before the Bulldogs battled back with six consecutive points to open a 9-7 lead. From that point on, Upstate would fight back to tie the set, but each time UNCA would pull back in front. Leading 16-14, UNCA scored three straight points to open a 19-14 lead and went on for the five point victory, 25-20, and a 2-0 lead in the match.

Despite being down two sets to none, Upstate never gave up and rallied to take the third set, 25-20. The teams went back and forth early in the set. With the frame tied at 11-11, the Spartans used a 3-0 run to open a 14-11 lead and gave itself a cushion. Upstate opened a four point advantage, 18-14, but watched at UNCA rallied with three consecutive points to get within one, 18-17. Upstate, though, responded with two straight points of its own to take a 20-17 lead and went on for the win by five points.

UNCA started quickly in the fourth set, scoring six of the first seven points to open a 6-1 lead. The Bulldogs extended the lead to six points, 9-3. Upstate managed to get within five, 10-5, but the Bulldogs rattled off five consecutive points to open a 15-5 advantage. UNCA led by as many as 13 the rest of the way en route to the 25-16 win in the set, securing the win in the match along the way.

Eversgerd finished with 11 digs to go with her 19 kills to lead Upstate on the night. It was the sixth double-double of the season for the sophomore. Lexi Gober also finished with a double-double with 53 assists and 13 digs, while Morgan Page had a team-high 18 digs. Meredith Foster led UNCA with 18 kills.

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