Box Score (.pdf)

Boiling Springs, N.C. – The USC Upstate volleyball team had three players finish with double-digit kills as the Spartans closed out play at the AmericInn Runnin' Bulldog Classic on Saturday afternoon with a 3-0 victory over the N.C. Central Eagles at Paul Porter Arena.

Upstate improves to 2-4 on the season while N.C. Central falls to 0-6 overall.

The Spartans won the match by scores of 25-22, 25-13 and 25-23.

STATS OF THE MATCH

• Upstate had three players compiled 10 or more kills in the contest led by Lily Dempsey for the second straight match with 12. Callie Yeargin and McKenna Kirkpatrick each posted 10 kills. The 10 kills by Kirkpatrick are a new career-high.
• Yeargin recorded her second double-double of the season by adding 14 digs along with Montana Swanson.
• Madison Haake concluded the match just shy of a double-double with 36 assists and nine digs.
• Kaleigh Kelley added a match-high 16 digs.
• Whitney White and Da'Nesha Miller led the Eagles with seven kills apiece, while Paige Phillips had 25 assists. Miller also contributed a team-leading 11 digs.
• The Spartans outhit N.C. Central .176 to .068 in the contest.

SET-BY-SET BREAKDOWN

• Set One:  The opening set featured 16 ties and nine lead changes with the score being even all 16 times before either team reached 20 points. The Eagles held a 10-7 advantage early before Upstate came back with three straight points to make it 10-10 on a combination block by Yeargin and Gloria Ikenegbu. Tied 19-19 late in the set, the Spartans outscored N.C. Central 6-3 for the 25-22 victory. Dempsey secured the win for Upstate with her kill.
• Set Two:  The Spartans jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead and went ahead 11-6 midway after kills from Swanson, Haake and Kirkpatrick. Following a timeout by the Eagles, Upstate scored eight of the next 12 points to go in front 19-10 on a kill by Yeargin. The Spartans finished the set on a 5-2 run for the 25-13 triumph capped by Swanson's kill.
• Set Three:  Upstate trailed 9-8 early to start the third set before N.C. Central used a 7-2 run to increase its lead to 16-10. The Spartans responded with an 8-3 run of their own midway and cut the deficit down to 19-18 after Kirkpatrick recorded three consecutive kills. Swanson tied the game for Upstate nine plays later at 23-23 with her kill. Dempsey finished the set with two straight kills to complete the Spartan comeback and win the set 25-23.

UP NEXT

• Upstate plays its first midweek match of the season on Wednesday, September 6 when it travels to Charlotte for a 6 p.m. contest.

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