SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The USC Upstate volleyball team dropped its home opener to the Limestone Saints 3-2 (15-25, 25-14, 25-20, 24-26, 13-15) on Tuesday evening from Eddie and Ann Payne Arena inside the G.B. Hodge Center.

USC Upstate falls to 0-4 on the season.

Limestone jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead in the first set before the Spartans rallied with four of the next five points to even the score at 4-4 on a kill by Emily Russell. Gloria Ikenegbu later kept the USC Upstate deficit at two points, 8-6, with her kill. The Saints broke the set open courtesy of an 8-0 run and took a 16-8 lead following a kill. The Spartans got as close as five points, 18-13, after a service error. Limestone closed out the set on a 7-2 run to capture the set 25-15.

USC Upstate opened the second set on a 4-1 run capped by Ikenegbu's kill. After the Saints trimmed the lead down to 10-8, the Spartans responded with an 8-1 run, capped by a Limestone attack error, to go ahead 18-9 and forcing the Saints into a timeout. Scout Hoffemier put USC Upstate ahead by double-figures, 20-10, with her kill. Three consecutive attack errors by the Saints gave the Spartans their largest lead of the set at 23-12. Hoffmeier won the set for USC Upstate, 25-14, with her kill.

The teams traded the first 18 points of the third set as Limestone evened the score at 9-9 on a combination block. The Spartans followed by going on a 9-1 run to break the set open and take an 18-10 lead on a kill from Russell. The Saints rallied to within four points, 23-19, to finish a 9-5 run. A kill by Mackenzie Lauer and Limestone attack error gave USC Upstate a 25-20 victory.

The fourth set featured 12 ties and five lead changes as the Saints held an early 12-7 lead. The Spartans came back with a 7-1 run and went in front 14-13 after a kill by Lauer. The score would be tied a total of four times after that when Russell and McKenna Kirkpatrick combined for a block to even the score at 20-20. The Saints concluded the set scoring six of the last 10 points to win 26-24.

Limestone started the fifth, and final, set on an 8-4 run forcing USC Upstate into a timeout. The Spartans came out of the break and responded with a 7-2 run and held an 11-10 advantage on a Saints attack error. Limestone closed out the match outscoring USC Upstate 5-2 to record the 15-13 victory and 3-2 match win.

Stats of the Match

·         Russell led three Spartans in double-figures with a team-high 14 kills and seven total blocks.

·         Ikenegbu and Lauer both contributed 12 kills as both hit over .300 for the match. Lauer compiled a team-leading .385 hitting percentage and Ikenegbu added a .310 mark.

·         Hoffmeier dished out a career-high 30 assists.

·         Four different USC Upstate players recorded 10 or more digs led by a career-high 29 from Mackenzie Marcum.

·         Kirkpatrick posted a career-best 17 digs while Mikenzie Young-Mullins and Courtney Coffy, playing in her first collegiate match, had 11 apiece.

·         Vanessa Blas had a match-high 21 kills for the Saints.

·         Madysen Williams collected a double-double of 16 kills and 24 digs.

·         Abbey Baker concluded the match with 53 assists.

·         The Spartans had a season-high 12.0 total blocks.

·         The match featured 24 ties and nine lead changes.

Up Next

·         USC Upstate hosts Georgia Southern at 4 p.m. on Saturday afternoon.

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