Match Highlights

Spartanburg, S.C. – The USC Upstate volleyball team suffered a 3-2 defeat to the Florida Gulf Coast Eagles Friday evening in Atlantic Sun action at the G.B. Hodge Center.

The Spartans fall to 1-14 overall and 1-5 in conference play, while the Eagles improve to 8-10 on the season and 5-1 against conference opponents with the victory.

FGCU won the match by scores of 25-23, 25-21, 20-25, 23-25 and 15-10.

Upstate was playing at home for the first time since Sept. 26 and gave the fans an exciting match to watch on Think Pink Night. Sophomore outside hitter Kayla Eversgerd was one of four Spartans on the night to record double-digit kills. She tallied her third straight double-double with a match-high 18 kills and 14 digs. Freshman middle blocker Emily Koelling and freshman outside hitter Alexa Lagaly each contributed 12 kills, while sophomore middle blocker Javon Gates added 11. Senior libero Morgan Page led all Upstate players with a career-high 33 digs, and was joined by in double-figures by Eversgerd, sophomore setter Lexi Gober and sophomore right side Shannon Weiss (13 each) and senior setter Amanda Carroll (12). Gober extended her consecutive double-double match streak to three as she also posted 50 assists.

The opening set featured nine ties as the Spartans held a late lead, but the Eagles would rally to win 25-23. Upstate came out of the gates to take an early 6-1 lead in the set before FGCU would answer with an 8-3 run to tie the frame at nine each. The two teams traded points back-and-forth with Upstate leading by as many as three at 20-17. The Eagles would tie the set at 20-20, and go on to win 25-23 after Koelling's attack error.

The second set saw the Spartans jump out to a five-point lead at 9-4 after Lagaly's kill, and held the advantage until FGCU answered to tie the set at 14-14. The Eagles increased their advantage to 21-17 and forced Upstate to call a timeout. The Spartans rallied off three straight points at the end to cut their deficit to 24-21, but FGCU would win the set 25-21 after a kill by Christine Pinder.

Upstate began its rally by capturing the third set over the Eagles 25-20. The set played out in similar fashion as the first featuring a total of 11 ties and eight lead changes. The two teams split the first 18 points before the Eagles went ahead 14-11 after Weiss' attack error, forcing a Spartan timeout. From there, Upstate finished the set on a 14-11 run, including the final three points, to win 25-20. FGCU trimmed the score to 22-20 but could not answer after back-to-back kills from Eversgerd.

The Spartans nodded the match at two apiece following an exciting 25-23 win in the fourth set. Upstate led the entire way after racing out to a 10-4 lead. The Spartans extended their lead to 15-7 after an attack error by the Eagles' Kaitlin Holm, but then saw FGCU make a comeback late in the set's final points. Sitting on set point, Upstate saw its lead cut to 24-23 following Eversgerd's attack error, but she would make up for it the very next play as she sent the match to a fifth set with her kill as the Spartans won by a score of 25-23.

The Eagles recorded four of the first five points of the final set to lead 4-1, only to see Upstate answer back and cut its margin to one at 9-8 after Lagaly's service ace. After the ace, FGCU ended the set on a 6-2 run to win 15-10 and take the match three games to two.

Jessica Barnes led all Eagle players with a double-double on 17 kills and 16 digs.

The Spartans remain at home Saturday afternoon as they entertain the Stetson Hatters in a 3 p.m. contest.

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