Thursday's MatchUP
October 20, 2022 | 6:00 p.m. ET
USC Upstate (6-15; 3-5 Big South) at High Point (14-8; 7-1 Big South)
Millis Center | High Point, N.C.
 
TV: ESPN+ | Via WatchESPN.com or the ESPN App
 
Series History
Thursday's meeting between USC Upstate and High Point marks the ninth all-time meeting in the respective program's Division I eras with each meeting coming since Upstate joined the Big South during the 2018 season. The Panthers have taken each of the previous meetings in the series, including a 3-1 victory in Spartanburg in late September, but the Spartans have taken a set in each of the last three meetings against one of the top teams in the Big South.
 
Players to Watch
Upstate: Posting 19 kills and 25.0 points over two matches last weekend, redshirt senior right-side hitter Briana Strobert led the Spartans in both offensive categories while crafting a team-high .300 hitting efficiency. She also ranked second among Spartans last week in total blocks with nine as she tallied three solo blocks as part of the total. Against Radford, she finished with a season-high 15 kills—one shy of her career-high—as she hit .424 in the match while adding four total blocks.
 
High Point: Averaging 5.58 points and 5.00 kills per set last week in two sweeps, junior outside hitter Dylan Maberry garnered co-Big South Player of the Week honors. She collected 30 kills, seven blocks, and 33.5 points while hitting .400 for the week, posting back-to-back matches with double-digit kills and a hitting efficiency greater than .385.
 
Quotable (Sophomore Defensive Specialist Sami Allen)
On her expanded role on the floor since the start of Big South play…
"It's meant a lot. I think one of my biggest attributes is being able to go out and lay my body on the floor and just "dig or die." I think I've stepped up to [fill] whatever role I need to be on the court and just be there for my team."
 
On the team's preparation for High Point…
"We've really zoned in on being purposeful in practice. Last time we matched up with HPU, we were really close with them, so we have that belief in mind that we know we can do it, so we're just really preparing and dialing in."
 
UP Next for the Spartans
Following the week's lone road match, Upstate returns to the G.B. Hodge Center Saturday afternoon for a meeting with regional rival Presbyterian. The Spartans and Blue Hose are set to clash at 2 p.m. ET.
 
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