SPARTANBUG, S.C. – The USC Upstate women's volleyball team will hit the road this weekend for the final time in the 2019 regular season with trips to Winthrop and Gardner-Webb.
 
The Spartans will clash with top-ranked and undefeated Winthrop in a Friday night showdown in Rock Hill, S.C. In the first meeting this season the Spartans came out ready to play and stole the opening set 25-23.  Despite eventually falling to the Eagles in four sets, senior middle blocker Emily Russell led the Spartan offense with 11 kills in the match.
 
The last time the Spartans traveled to Rock Hill they came away with a loss after a close match. USC Upstate lost the opening set by three total points but rallied in the second set to win 25-21. Once again the Eagles eventually won the final two sets of the match. If the Spartans are able to pull off the upset it will be their first win against Winthrop since moving up to the Division I level.
 
In the second match of the weekend USC Upstate will look to complete the season sweep of Gardner-Webb. Earlier this season the Spartans swept the Runnin' Bulldogs in straight sets 26-24, 25-14, 25-21 inside the G.B. Hodge Center. Russell once again led the Spartans in kills with 13 in the match, outside hitter McKenna Kirkpatrick contributed 12 kills in the match to pace the Spartans offense. If the Spartans are able to win on Saturday it will be their second consecutive season sweep over Gardner-Webb and their fifth straight win over the Runnin' Bulldogs dating back to the 2016 season.
 
Live links to both the video feed and the live stats link can be found on www.upstatespartans.com. For all the latest news on the USC Upstate volleyball team follow USC Upstate volleyball on Facebook (UpstateAthletics), Twitter (@UpstateVB), Instagram (@upstatespartans) and YouTube (USCUpstateAthletics).