Box Score (.pdf)

Knoxville, Tenn. – The USC Upstate volleyball team began play at the Rocky Top Invitational on Friday afternoon by dropping a 3-0 decision to the Furman Paladins at Thompson-Boling Arena.

Upstate falls to 3-8 overall while Furman improves to 6-5 on the season.

The Paladins won the match by scores of 25-14, 25-18 and 25-19.

STATS OF THE MATCH

• Furman held a .238 to .067 advantage over the Spartans in hitting percentage.
• Upstate led 3.0 to 1.0 in total team blocks.
• Lily Dempsey led the Spartans offensively with five kills.
• Madison Haake contributed four kills, 10 assists and four digs.
• Callie Yeargin and Payton Duncan each posted six digs.
• Jamila Johnson led all players with 17 kills for the Paladins while Hunter Thompson had a double-double of 29 assists and 12 digs.
• Meg DeMaar finished with a match-high 20 digs.

SET-BY-SET BREAKDOWN

• Set One:  After Furman opened the first set scoring four of the initial five points, Upstate answered with four of the next seven to cut its deficit to 7-5 on Dempsey's kill. The Paladins scored the following four points to increase their lead to 11-5. The Spartans would get as close as five points again when a solo block by Emily Russell put the score at 13-8. Furman outscored Upstate 12-6 the rest of the way to win 25-14.
• Set Two:  The Spartans held an early 3-2 lead to start the second set on a kill from Haake. The Paladins came back to take a 7-3 lead and later held a 12-8 advantage. Upstate tallied a 9-4 run midway and took a 17-16 lead on a kill by Haake. Furman concluded the frame on a 9-1 run for the 25-18 triumph.
• Set Three:  The third set featured a total of seven ties and three lead changes. The teams exchanged the first 16 points and were tied 8-8 after Yeargin connected on a kill. The Paladins responded with four consecutive points to go ahead 12-8. The Spartans later cut the lead to 13-10 on a Furman attack error. The Paladins would go on a 9-3 run and pushed their lead out to 22-13. Upstate fought back late to within five as Haake's service ace made the score 24-19. Furman won the set the following play.

UP NEXT

• The Spartans return to Thompson-Boling Arena on Saturday for two matches on the final day of the Rocky Top Invitational.
• Upstate faces host Tennessee at 10 a.m. followed by Marshall at 4:30 p.m.

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