CLINTON, S.C. – USC Upstate volleyball completed the season sweep over Presbyterian College Friday night with a win in straight sets (26-24, 25-15, 25-21) to improve to 3-7 on the year. The match was Upstate's first straight-set win of the year, and the first time the Spartans have won back-to-back matches since September 2019.
"It was another balanced offense delivered by Bruna Avila to our attackers this evening. We did a great job winning the serve and pass game, along with being consistent from a defensive standpoint. It was an all-around great win on the road," said head coach Ronda Shirley.
Upstate was able to take a 4-3 lead on a pair of kills from Kelly Wiedemann early in the opening set. Four straight points from PC put the Blue Hose up 8-6, but the Spartans responded with three straight of their own to retake the lead 9-8. The Spartans then took advantage of five straight PC errors to push their lead to 15-10. Upstate built up to a 22-17 lead, but the Blue Hose would threaten with three straight points to force a Spartan timeout. PC tied things up at 22 and the two teams would exchange points to stay tied at 24, but the Spartans were able to take the set on a kill from Wiedemann followed by a block by Bruna Avila and Nikki Deslatte.
A 6-0 run in the second set with two aces and a kill from Alexis Mareko put Upstate ahead 8-4, and then a 5-0 run with three service aces from Scout Hoffmeier and two kills from Wiedemann would push Upstate's lead to 13-6. The Spartans later took four straight for a 22-11 lead and finished things off on a kill from Mareko and block from Strobert and Deslatte.
The Spartans got off to a 6-1 lead in the third, but PC took four straight to come back within one point of Upstate at 6-5 before things eventually got tied it up at 7-7. Upstate responded with four straight points to take the 11-7 lead but the set would continue to go back-and-forth as the Blue Hose evened things back up at 14. The Spartans were able to go up 22-16 and hold onto the lead to close out the match on a PC service error.
Notes
UP next for the Spartans
The Spartans return to the Hodge Thursday and Friday, March 18-19 for a back-to-back series against UNC Asheville. Both matches are set for 6 p.m.
Spartans Win Today, You Save Tomorrow!
Save 50% off online orders at Papa John's locations across the Upstate. Use the code USCUP50 when placing online orders the day after Upstate victories. Also tomorrow, visit The Beacon Drive-In located in Spartanburg and show the win graphic posted to the @UpstateSpartans Instagram account to claim a free sweet tea as part of the "Sweet Taste of Victory" promotion. No purchase necessary.
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