CARBONDALE, Ill. – Wrapping play at the Saluki Invitational Saturday, USC Upstate dropped its final match of the three-match event, falling to Eastern Illinois by set scores of 25-18, 25-19, 25-20 in the penultimate match of the event.
Despite the result, the Spartans' trend of career-high efforts continued as freshman libero
Julia Gladhill landed a career-high four service aces, helping Upstate's service to a weekend-high eight winners. On the weekend, Upstate landed 17 service aces, the second-most by the team in a weekend tournament this season.
Against the Panthers, Upstate continued adding to its season-high tournament block total, recording 5.5 blocks against Eastern Illinois to give them 27.5 total blocks on the weekend. Sophomore middle blocker
Nikki Deslatte led the way with three total blocks as senior middle blocker
Alexis Mareko and junior right-side hitter
Briana Strobert added two rejections apiece.
Offensively, the Spartans were balanced for the third consecutive match Upstate had seven players record multiple kills in the match as nine Spartans recorded a kill in the match. Leading the group of attackers was senior outside hitter
Breeana Gamueda who tallied seven kills while Mareko and senior middle blocker
Renae Watson added five kills each.
Elsewhere on the box score, sophomore setter
Emma McElveen and freshman setter
Kayla Spangler each dished out 12 assists apiece. Defensively, Gladhill collected a team-high eight digs while senior outside hitter
Kelly Wiedemann added seven to lead the defensive unit.
UP Next for the Spartans
USC Upstate concludes its season-opening tournament slate, competing at the GATA Challenge in Statesboro, Ga. The Spartans play three matches at the event, facing Mercer, Alabama State, and host Georgia Southern.
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