SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Looking to close out its home schedule strong and send off its seniors in style, USC Upstate volleyball did just that Saturday afternoon as it captured its eighth straight win at the G.B. Hodge Center with a sweep of Hampton.
 
The Spartans' straight-set victory (25-16, 25-13, 25-12) improved the team to 8-1 at the Hodge this season—tied for the most home wins in a single season in the D1 era—winning each of its last eight at home to tie the D1 era record for the longest home winning streak, tying an eight-match streak that spanned the 2018 and 2019 seasons.
 
On "Senior Day," all seven of the team's seniors, outside hitter Breeana Gamueda, setter Allie Hamsher, defensive specialist Scout Hoffmeier, libero Mackenzie Marcum, middle blocker Alexis Mareko, right-side hitter Renae Watson, and outside hitter Kelly Wiedemann, all providing key moments in the victory.
 
Offensively, Gamueda and Wiedemann paced the Spartans, collecting nine and seven kills, respectively. Mareko, sophomore middle blocker Nikki Deslatte, and junior right-side hitter Briana Strobert added five kills each while Hamsher (three), Watson (two), sophomore setter Emma McElveen (one), sophomore outside hitter Zelasia Edwards (one), and freshman middle blocker Christina Pratcher (one) each adding kills.
 
As a team, Upstate posted its third match with a hitting percentage of .300 or better, hitting .312 in the match. Pacing the Spartan attack, McElveen and Hamsher passed out 16 and 15 assists each, leading Upstate to its second-highest team hitting percentage of the season.
 
Adding 10 digs on the afternoon, Hamsher finished with the match's lone double-double, collecting her ninth in a Spartan uniform. Marcum joined Hamsher with double-digit digs, scooping up a match-high 14 as Wiedemann nearly recorded her ninth double-double of the year as she chipped in nine digs in the match.
 
At the net, Upstate held Hampton to a .054 hitting percentage, forcing 18 attack errors compared to 23 kills for the Pirates. The Spartans finished the match with six total blocks as Mareko and Deslatte led the defense with three total blocks each with Watson and Strobert collecting two apiece and Hamsher and Gamueda adding one each.
 
In service, the Spartans landed 10-plus aces for the fifth time this season, landing 12 Saturday. Leading the Upstate servers, Gamueda, Mareko, and McElveen tallied three winners apiece with Hoffmeier and Wiedemann adding two and one aces, respectively.
 
UP Next for the Spartans
After wrapping up the home portion of the team's slate Saturday afternoon, Upstate returns to action next weekend for the final two matches of the regular season. The Spartans travel to North Carolina A&T next Friday night before concluding the regular season at High Point next Saturday.
 
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