SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Behind a season-high-tying block and a balanced offense, USC Upstate volleyball pushed its winning streak at the G.B. Hodge Center to six matches as the Spartans swept Charleston Southern Saturday.
 
Posting scores of 25-14, 25-17, and 25-16, Upstate captured its sixth straight victory at the Hodge, tying for the most consecutive home victories contained in a single season during the program's D1 era while the streak represents the longest home winning streak since winning eight straight home matches spanning the 2018 and 2019 seasons.
 
The Spartans posted a season-high-tying 13.0 total blocks, the program's fourth double-digit block match of the season while holding the Buccaneers to a negative hitting percentage—the second time the Spartans have forced their opponents to a negative hitting percentage this season.
 
Junior right-side hitter Briana Strobert paced Upstate with seven total blocks on the afternoon, including a career-best two solo blocks.  She headlined a block that saw all six Spartans with a block tally three or more in the match as senior middle blocker Alexis Mareko and sophomore middle blocker Nikki Deslatte adding five and four blocks, respectively. Senior outside hitters Breeana Gamueda and Kelly Wiedemann each totaled three blocks apiece.
 
Offensively, the Spartans boasted a balanced attack as all six primary offensive players produced a kill. Gamueda and senior setter/right-side hitter Allie Hamsher each tallied eight kills apiece to pace Upstate with Strobert finishing just behind the duo with six kills. Deslatte, Mareko, and Wiedemann each added three terminations each with sophomore setter Emma McElveen rounding out the group, dumping in a lone assist.
 
In addition to the pairs' kill totals, Hamsher and McElveen dished out 11 and 13 assists, respectively. The duo also led Upstate to a .301 team hitting efficiency, posting the team's second-highest hitting percentage of the season and the highest hitting efficiency in conference play.
 
Behind the block, senior libero Mackenzie Marcum and Wiedemann each scooped up eight digs apiece to lead Upstate's floor defense while Gamueda finished just behind with seven digs of her own. McElveen chipped in five digs in the match while Hamsher added three to round out the Spartan total.
 
In service, Upstate secured its 17^th match of the season with five or more service aces, landing seven Saturday afternoon. The match marked the ninth with five-plus aces in league play. Hamsher and Mareko led the Spartans with two winners each with Marcum, McElveen, and Wiedemann adding an ace apiece.
 
UP Next for the Spartans
Following consecutive weeks with a midweek and a weekend match, USC Upstate returns to a traditional weekend doubleheader next week. The Spartans travel to Gardner-Webb and Winthrop for a pair of Big South Conference rematches.
 
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