SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The USC Upstate volleyball team is down to its final two games of the regular season against Hampton and Campbell University, both matches will be at home this weekend inside the friendly confines of the G.B. Hodge Center.

USC Upstate (8-17, 4-8 BSC) is carrying a bit of momentum into the final weekend of action with an opportunity to play in the Big South Championships on the line. Last weekend the Spartans pushed undefeated and conference leader Winthrop to the brink before falling in five sets. The next day the Spartans completed season sweep of Gardner-Webb for the second consecutive season.

Earlier this season the Spartans swept Hampton 3-0 (25-10, 25-21, 25-18) on the road to improve 4-0 all-time against the Pirates. Seniors Emily Russell and Gloria Ikenegbu led the way with a double-digit attack performance against the Pirates. Since 2016 the Spartans have given up just one set to Hampton (7-16, 2-10 BSC). Last season the Spartans swept Hampton inside the G.B. Hodge Center behind Ikenegbu's 9 kill performance.

The USC Upstate match against Campbell turned out to be a five set thriller that unfortunately went the way of Campbell. The Spartans raced out and demolished the Camels in the opening set 25-8. Campbell won a close second and third set but USC Upstate out lasted Campbell in the fourth 26-24 to force a fifth set. The Camels took the final set 15-10 and now hold a 6-2 advantage in the all-time series. However, the previous two matchups have gone the distance with each team holding serve on their home court.

The Spartans will honor three seniors this weekend as they look to send them out with a pair of wins on their home court. Gloria Ikenegbu has appeared in 95 matches for the Spartans and produced 501 career kills and 279 total blocks. Emily Russell has appeared in 76 matches over a three-year stint and has registered 607 kills and 779 total points. Mackenzie Lauer played her final two seasons in the green and black and recorded 169 kills in 49 matches for the Spartans.

A reminder that all USC Upstate volleyball games are free to attend, live stat links and video links can be found at upstatespartans.com.
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