Box Score (.pdf)

Orangeburg, S.C. – The USC Upstate volleyball team remains undefeated to start the season following its 3-1 (26-24, 18-25, 25-19, 29-27) victory over the South Carolina State Bulldogs Tuesday evening inside Dukes Gymnasium.

Upstate improves to 8-0 on the season after winning its second midweek match of the season. South Carolina State falls to 0-4 overall.

Emily Koelling and Brianna Tellschow combined for 20 kills to lead the Spartans offensively. Koelling and Tellschow both had 10 kills in the match while Kaleigh Kelley recorded a season-high 17 digs. Koelling just missed on her second double-double of the season after finishing with eight digs to go with four blocks and two service aces. Lexi Gober tied her season-high of 42 assists and Madison Haake added nine kills.

Kirby Anderson led three South Carolina State players in double-figure kills with a match-high 13 and contributed a double-double after collecting 11 digs. Melanie Williams had 44 assists.

The first set was closely contested the entire way with neither team holding a lead of more than three points. The teams traded the opening 14 points and sat tied 7-7 after a service error by Callie Yeargin. Upstate picked up two of the next three points, highlighted by Gober's kill, to go back in front, but the Bulldogs tied the set at 13-13 on Marissa Lawrence's kill. The Spartans reeled off the next three points to lead 16-13 and held the advantage for the next several plays. South Carolina State used a 4-0 run late to take a 21-19 lead. Upstate limited the Bulldogs to just three points after that and won the set 26-24 on a kill by Yeargin.

South Carolina State answered in the second set with a 25-18 win and tie the match 1-1. Koelling equaled the frame at 7-7 after teaming up with Tellschow to record a pair of kills in the early stages. The Bulldogs then went on a 10-4 run to break the set open at 17-11. The Spartans were able to get to within three, 17-14, midway, but South Carolina State scored eight of the final 12 points to win the set.

Upstate took a quick 5-2 lead to start the third set after capitalizing on several Bulldog errors. South Carolina State fought back to take an 8-6 lead only to see the Spartans rally with a 9-4 run capped off when Yeargin's kill put them ahead 15-12. Upstate took a five-point lead twice after that with the first coming at 19-14 on Koelling's service ace. A kill by Koelling and a bad set by Williams gave the Spartans a 25-19 third set victory.

Upstate captured eight of the first 12 points of the fourth set to lead 8-4 courtesy of a service ace by Koelling. The Spartans led most of the way after that until the Bulldogs used a combination block from Lawrence and Kiana Stone to tie the set at 15-15. Tellschow managed to give Upstate a 23-21 lead late in the frame, but South Carolina State came back with two straight points to make it 23-23. The teams traded the next nine points with the Spartans holding a 28-27 lead after Ashante Finnie committed an attack error and bad set. Haake gave Upstate the set, and match, on the ensuing play as her service ace gave the Spartans the 29-27 triumph.

Upstate travels to Clemson this weekend for the Clemson Classic where it will face Presbyterian College, East Tennessee State and Clemson.

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