Game Box (PDF)

Hempstead, N.Y. – The USC Upstate volleyball team opened play in the Hofstra Invitational Friday and turned in a tremendous effort against Central Michigan. However, the Spartans dropped three close sets to fall, 3-0, to the Chippewas.

Upstate lost by scores of 28-26, 25-21 and 25-21. The Spartans fell to 0-6 on the year with the loss and will take on Hofstra and Princeton Saturday at 2:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. Central Michigan improved to 3-4 on the year with the win.

Despite falling 3-0 to Central Michigan, Upstate turned in an inspiring effort. The Spartans led 23-18 in the first set before the Chippewas fought back and outscored Upstate 10-3 to take the first set, 28-26. The Spartans trailed by no more than one point throughout the second set until Central Michigan opened a 16-14 lead and maintained a small advantage the rest of the way for the 25-21 win. Upstate fell behind by a small margin in the third set, fought back to tie it midway through the set, and eventually fell after the Chippewas used a late run to distance themselves from the Spartans for another 25-21 win.

Kayla Eversgerd (Breese, Ill.) led Upstate with a double-double, finishing with 10 kills and 10 digs. Javon Gates (Indianapolis, Ind.) added six kills and two blocks, while Lexi Gober (Edwardsville, Ill.) tallied 26 assists. Kaitlyn McIntyre led Central Michigan with 18 kills.

Upstate fell behind, 12-9, in the first set before outscoring Central Michigan 14-6 to open a 23-18 lead. The Spartans looked to take the first set, but the Chippewas rattled off four straight points to get within 23-22. Upstate got within one point, 24-22, of ending the set on Gates' kill, but Central Michigan scored the next three points to take a 25-24 lead and went on for the 28-26 win.

Upstate and Central Michigan jockeyed back and forth in the second set with neither team able to open more than a point lead throughout the first half of the set. With the score tied at 14-14, the Chippewas scored four consecutive points to open an 18-14 lead and the Spartans could only get as close as two the rest of the way as Central Michigan opened a 2-0 sets lead.

Upstate fell behind by three points early in the third set, tied it al 11-11, fell behind again, and tied it back at 14-14. A 5-0 Central Michigan run gave the Chippewas a 19-14 lead and Upstate could only get as close as three at 24-21 before losing the final point. The Spartans hit .308 in the third set to highlight the match.

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