OXFORD, Ohio – The USC Upstate volleyball team closed out play at the Miami Best Western Sycamore Inn Invitational on Saturday afternoon dropping a 3-0 (12-25, 14-25, 20-25) decision to the Miami (OH) RedHawks at Millett Hall.
USC Upstate falls to 0-3 on the season while Miami (OH) improves to 2-0 overall.
The RedHawks opened the first set by scoring eight of the first 10 points to take a six-point lead. The Spartans rallied with a 7-2 run and cut their deficit down to 10-9 after Mikenzie Young-Mullins and Emily Russell combined for three straight kills. A combination block from Young-Mullins and Gloria Ikenegbu later kept USC Upstate's deficit at 12-11. Miami (OH) closed out the set on a 13-1 run for the 25-12 win.
The Spartans held an early 7-5 advantage in the second set when McKenna Kirkpatrick connected on a kill. The RedHawks responded with eight consecutive points to go in front 13-7. USC Upstate got as close as five points twice the remainder of the set with the last coming at 15-10 on a kill from Young-Mullins. Miami (OH) broke the set open courtesy of a 7-2 run to hold a 22-12 lead. The RedHawks scored the final three points to record the 25-14 victory.
Back-to-back attack errors by Miami (OH) put the Spartans ahead 2-0 to start the third set. Miami (OH) then reeled off seven consecutive points and later held an 11-4 lead. An 11-4 run would put USC Upstate tied again at 15-15 when Russell and Mackenzie Lauer combined for a block. Russell kept the Spartans within a one-point margin after her kill put the score at 18-17. The RedHawks answered by collecting five of the next six points to go ahead 23-18. USC Upstate attempted a late rally when a Kirkpatrick kill and Scout Hoffmeier service ace trimmed the deficit down to 24-20. Miami (OH) won the set, and match, the following play.
Stats of the Match
· Russell was selected as the Spartans representative on the Miami Best Western Sycamore Inn Invitational All-Tournament Team.
· Kirkpatrick led USC Upstate with seven kills after hitting .250 for the match.
· Hoffmeier finished with 18 assists.
· Young-Mullins contributed six kills and eight digs.
· Lily Dempsey registered a team-leading 10 digs.
· Allyson Severance compiled a match-high 14 kills and .429 hitting percentage for the RedHawks.
· Louise Comerford and Morgan Seaman combined for 33 assists with Comerford dishing out 22 and Seaman 11.
· Taylor Daignault led all players with 14 digs.
Up Next
· The Spartans host Limestone in their home opener on Tuesday, September 3 at 7 p.m.
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