Box Score (.pdf)

DeLand, Fla. – The USC Upstate volleyball team dropped a 3-1 decision to the Stetson Hatters in conference play Friday evening inside the Edmunds Center.

Upstate falls to 12-8 on the season and 0-4 in conference play, while Stetson improves to 6-11 overall and 1-3 in the league.

Madison Haake recorded her eighth double-double of the season on 10 kills and 18 digs to lead the Spartans. Emily Koelling tallied a team-high 11 kills, while Lexi Gober added 30 assists and nine digs. Shannon Weiss contributed 21 digs in the match.

Haley Tippett finished with a match-high 16 kills for the Hatters and was one of four players to finish with 10 or more kills. Tippett had a double-double after collecting 15 digs. Kayla Weller also had a double-double on 49 assists and 11 digs. Michelle Kastner led all players with 25 digs.

Stetson opened the first set on a 7-2 run capped by three kills from Tippett. Upstate fought back to tie the set 7-7 after scoring five straight as Rebecca Shearer and Kayla Eversgerd each picked up a kill. The Spartans stayed within two at 11-9 on a Shelby Connors service error, but the Hatters broke the set open with a 9-3 run to go in front 20-12. Upstate got as close as five, 24-19, after that, but Stetson won the opening frame 25-19 on a kill by Madison Fitzsimmons.

The Spartans bounced back in the second set to win 31-29 and even the match at 1-1. Upstate began on a 5-1 run after Koelling and Haake teamed up for a block. The Hatters came back with an 8-2 run to take a 9-7 advantage, leading to a stretch where both teams traded points over the next 13 plays. Eversgerd and Koelling scored back-to-back for the Spartans to go in front 18-15, and later led 21-17 after Haake's ace. Stetson responded to even the set late before the teams exchanged points again for a period of 17 plays. Shearer captured the set for Upstate with two straight kills.

The third set also went into extra points with the Hatters winning 27-25 and going ahead 2-1 in the match. The teams exchanged the first 14 points of the frame with the Spartans tying the score 7-7 on a service error by Madison Akins. Stetson followed with an 8-3 run after that to lead 15-10 with Akins putting it ahead by five with her kill. The Hatters led by as many as six, 19-13, before Upstate rallied to equal the score on an attack error by Connors, ending a 7-1 run. The Spartans scored two straight to keep the score even at 24-24, but a Tippett kill and Upstate error gave Stetson the two-point win.

The Hatters won the match 3-1 after taking the fourth set over the Spartans 25-13. Stetson scored five of the opening six points of the frame and led 5-1 off McKenna Foster's kill. Shearer trimmed Upstate's deficit to 6-4 with her kill, but the Hatters used another 5-1 run to take an 11-5 lead. After an attack error cut the lead for the Spartans to 12-7, Stetson went on an 8-2 run to go in front 20-9. The Hatters captured the set off an Upstate ball handling error.

The Spartans continue their road trip Saturday evening at 7 p.m. against Florida Gulf Coast.

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