Saturday's MatchUP
October 23, 2021 | 2:00 p.m. ET
USC Upstate (10-12; 6-3 Big South) vs. Charleston Southern (6-12; 2-6 Big South)
G.B. Hodge Center | Spartanburg, S.C.
 
TV: ESPN+ (PXP: Brock Bowling; Analyst: Sarah Gildersleeve) | Via WatchESPN.com or the ESPN App
Promotions: Black Out / Student Appreciation Match | Fans are encouraged to wear black
 
Series History
Meeting for the first time since 2019 when the two teams hit the court Saturday afternoon, USC Upstate and Charleston Southern will meet for the fifth time in the Spartans' Division I era. Despite not meeting in Big South competition last season, the Spartans lead the overall series 3-1, winning each of the past three and the two meetings between the teams as conference foes.
 
Last Time Out
October 19, 2021: USC Upstate 3, Presbyterian 1
 
Players to Watch
Upstate: Landing 15 service aces in 31 sets during conference play, senior libero Mackenzie Marcum enters the weekend ranked second in the conference in aces per set. She also enters ranked sixth in the conference in digs per set in league play, scooping 133 balls in 31 sets. Moving up the career Division I era leaderboards, Marcum enters the Charleston Southern match with five consecutive double-figure dig matches.
 
Charleston So.: Leading the Big South in kills and attacks per set, outside hitter/right-side hitter Peyton Thompson enters Saturday's match as Charleston Southern's go-to attacker. She averages 3.47 kills on an average of 10.69 attacks per set this season, posting double-digit kills in each of her past seven matches.
 
UP Next for the Spartans
Beginning the repeat portion of its Big South Conference schedule, Upstate starts a two-game road trip next weekend. The road swing features a trip to Gardner-Webb on October 29 and culminates with a stop at Winthrop on October 30.
 
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