FORT MYERS, Fla. – USC Upstate volleyball opened up its weekend at the Florida Gulf Coast University Classic Friday afternoon against Florida A&M. The Spartans went down in straight sets by scores of 25-20, 25-20, and 25-17. With the loss Upstate falls to 1-2 on the year while FAMU improves to 3-2.

The Rattlers raced out to a 3-0 lead in the opening set, but the Spartans immediately tied it up after back-to-back blocks and a Rattler attack error before taking a 4-3 lead on a kill from Alexis Mareko. FAMU then went on a 7-1 run for a 12-6 lead, but Upstate climbed back to a one-point deficit thanks to back-to-back kills from Breeana Gamueda. The Rattlers later built their lead back up to 23-16, but Upstate responded with three straight points to make it 23-19 and force FAMU to take a timeout. Gamueda put down another late kill, but FAMU was able to get the last kill to take the set 25-20.

Freshman Julia Gladhill subbed into the second set early and put down her third service ace of the season to take a 2-1 lead. After FAMU took five straight points for a 6-2 lead, Mareko sparked a 10-0 run for the Spartans in which she had two kills and three service aces for a 12-6 lead. The Rattlers, however, fought back to a 16-15 lead. After being tied 18-18, FAMU would pull away by using four straight points to take a 24-19 lead before once again winning the set 25-20.

In the final set, the Rattlers jumped out to 6-2 lead, and the Spartans regrouped to answer that with five straight points to take a 7-6 lead. Back-to-back service aces from Mackenzie Marcum later pushed Upstate's lead to 11-9, and after holding a 13-11 advantage off a kill from Mareko, the Rattlers took 12 straight points for a 23-13 lead that the Spartans ultimately could not recover from as they dropped the set 25-17.

Kelly Wiedemann once again led the Spartan attack as she put down double-digit kills for the fifth consecutive match, dating back to last season. She finished the day with 12 kills. Allie Hamsher posted her second double-double of the season with 20 assists and 13 digs, and Mackenzie Marcum collected double-digit kills in her third straight match with 16.

UP Next for the Spartans
Upstate continues its weekend at the FGCU Classic with a pair of matches tomorrow, Saturday, Sept. 4. The Spartans face Florida International at 2 p.m. before closing their weekend against host Florida Gulf Coast at 7 p.m.

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