Upstate Turns to ASUN Play Saturday at NJIT
9/22/2017 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Spartanburg, S.C. – The USC Upstate volleyball team begins ASUN Conference play this weekend as it heads to NJIT on Saturday to face the Highlanders at 1 p.m. from Estelle and Zoom Fleisher Athletic Center.
The Spartans enter the conference opener with a 3-10 overall record while NJIT currently sits at 6-7 on the season.
Upstate is facing the Highlanders for the fifth time in program history and lead the all-time series 3-1 after winning each of the first three meetings. NJIT won the last meeting over the Spartans, 3-1, last season in Newark.
Upstate wrapped up its final tournament last weekend at the Rocky Top Invitational in Knoxville, Tenn. The Spartans faced Furman, Tennessee and Marshall during the two-day tournament. Madison Haake was named to the Rocky Top Invitational All-Tournament Team, her second of the season, after compiling 66 assists, 18 digs and 10 kills. Haake also recorded one double-double over the weekend with 32 assists and 11 digs against Tennessee.
Upstate leads the ASUN this season in digs per set and is second behind the Highlanders in digs. Individually, Kaleigh Kelley is second in the conference in digs and fifth in digs per set, while Lily Dempsey sits tied for fourth in service aces and tied for eighth in assisted blocks. Haake also ranks third for the league in both assists and service aces, and fifth in assists per set.
NJIT is under the direction of fourth-year head coach Peter Volkert. The Highlanders are led offensively by Tess Albyn with 139 kills while Emily Krachenfels has contributed 176 assists and Alahna Diaz 121 digs.
Fans can follow the action on www.upstatespartans.com via live stats. Updates will be posted on the Upstate volleyball Twitter page (@UpstateVB).
The Spartans play their first home matches of the season next weekend, Sept. 29-Oct. 1, when they host Jacksonville and North Florida inside the G.B. Hodge Center.
Follow Upstate volleyball on Facebook (UpstateAthletics), Twitter (@UpstateVB), Instagram (@upstatespartans), YouTube (USCUpstateAthletics) and text/e-mail alerts (www.upstatespartans.com/list-signup).
