Box Score (.pdf)

Spartanburg, S.C. – Madison Haake finished with a triple-double, while Montana Swanson added a double-double, but it was not enough as the USC Upstate volleyball team dropped a 3-2 decision to the Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs in its home opener Tuesday evening inside the Hodge Center.

• Haake compiled her second triple-double of the season after leading the Spartans with a team-high 13 kills, 20 assists and 14 digs. Through four matches this season, the sophomore has recorded two triple-doubles and two double-doubles. She now has eight triple-doubles in her career.
• Swanson picked up her first career double-double as the freshman set two career-highs with 10 kills and 16 digs.
• Kaleigh Kelley also achieved a new career-high in the contest after registering 35 digs.
• Callie Yeargin added 17 digs and Emily Koelling posted 11 kills in the home opener.
• Amanda Sahm finished with a double-double for the Runnin' Bulldogs on 28 assists and 11 digs, and Nicole Celarek had a team-best 13 kills.

• Set One:  A total of ten ties highlighted the opening set as neither team led by more than three throughout the frame. The teams traded the first 22 points and were tied 11-11 midway. Upstate managed to even the set at 17-17 after a Gardner-Webb service error, but the Runnin' Bulldogs would take a 23-20 lead late. A Spartan service error gave the Runnin' Bulldogs the 25-22 win.
• Set Two:  Upstate trailed just twice early in the set and held an 8-5 lead after a kill by Swanson. After GWU trimmed its deficit down to two, the Spartans used a 9-4 run to take their largest lead of the set, 19-12, following another kill from Swanson. The Runnin' Bulldogs made it a three-point contest late, but Rebecca Shearer gave Upstate the 25-19 win with her kill.
• Set Three:  The Spartans scored five of the first seven points to lead 5-2, until Gardner-Webb went on a 7-2 run to tie the set at 9-9. The Runnin' Bulldogs broke the frame open courtesy of a 10-3 run to increase their advantage to 19-12. Upstate managed to get as close as four, 20-16, when Haake and Brianna Tellschow combined for a block. A Spartan attack error lifted GWU to the 25-18 triumph.
• Set Four:  Upstate recorded the first five points and took a 7-1 lead on Tellschow's kill, forcing a Gardner-Webb timeout. Following the timeout, the Spartans scored four of the next six points to increase their lead out to 11-2. The Runnin' Bulldogs would pick up three consecutive points to cut their deficit to 13-9, but Upstate answered with a 9-5 run to go in front 22-14 on a kill by Yeargin. The Spartans would win the set 25-19 on a GWU attack error.
• Set Five:  With the score tied 5-5 to begin the set, the Runnin' Bulldogs picked up six of the following seven points to go ahead 11-6. Upstate fought back midway with a 6-1 run of its own to sit tied 12-12 following back-to-back kills by Koelling. GWU limited the Spartans to one point after that to win 15-13.

• Upstate travels to Lynchburg, Va. this weekend to participate in three games as part of the Liberty Invitational.
• The Spartans open play Friday evening at 7 p.m. against host Liberty, before facing ETSU at 10 a.m. on Saturday followed by Hampton at 4:30 p.m.