Weekend MatchUPs
October 28, 2022 | 6:00 p.m. ET
USC Upstate (6-17; 3-7 Big South) at UNC Asheville (3-17; 0-10 Big South)
Justice Center | Asheville, N.C.
 
October 29, 2022 | 6:00 p.m.
USC Upstate (6-17; 3-7 Big South) at Gardner-Webb (6-16; 4-6 Big South)
Paul Porter Arena | Boiling Springs, N.C.
 
TV: ESPN+ (vs. AVL only) | Via WatchESPN.com or the ESPN App
 
Series History
vs. UNC Asheville: Meeting for the 18^th time Friday evening, the series between USC Upstate and UNC Asheville is one of the longest-running series in the Spartans' Division I era (2007-pres.). Despite trailing in the series nine matches to eight, Upstate has closed the gap over the last three seasons, taking four straight matches via sweep, including a 3-0 victory at the Hodge on Sep. 30.
 
vs. Gardner-Webb: In another long-running series pitting two regional rivals, USC Upstate and Gardner-Webb will meet for the 19^th time in the Spartans' Division I era (2007-pres.) Saturday. The Spartans lead the series 10-8 and have won eight of the last 10 meetings between the two teams despite dropping the season's earlier match 3-2 on Sep. 29.
 
Last Times Out
October 20, 2022: High Point 3; USC Upstate 0
October 22, 2022: Presbyterian 3; USC Upstate 1
 
Players to Watch
Upstate: Accomplishing something that a player in the Spartan program hadn't accomplished since 2016, sophomore libero Julia Gladhill dug up a career-high 31 balls last Saturday versus Presbyterian, the first 30-plus dig match by a Spartans since Nov. 17, 2016. Adding eight digs over three sets against High Point, Gladhill dug up 39 balls last week, averaging 5.57 digs per set as she added eight assists and three service aces to complement her dig total.
 
Asheville: Ranking fourth in the Big South in both total digs and digs per set, junior libero Giulia Rodrigues is UNC Asheville's leader on the floor. She's scooped up 296 total balls this season, averaging 4.29 per set as she's recorded double-digit digs in five straight matches entering the weekend.
 
Gardner-Webb: Passing out 83 assists (8.30 per set), scooping 20 digs (2.00 per set), and totaling six blocks (0.60 per set) over two matches last weekend, freshman setter Morgan Hornaday garnered Big South Freshman of the Week honors. She enters the weekend ranked third in the Big South in total assists with 621, averaging 7.76 assists per set on the year while passing out 40-plus assists in each of her last two matches.
 
Quotable (Junior Middle Blocker Nikki Deslatte)
On the team's defensive improvement over the past few matches…
"It's definitely our practice. Our practice has been really focused on defense, especially blocking and floor defense. I think that pulling it all together and working as one unit has really helped us."
 
On the team's preparations for upcoming matches versus UNC Asheville and Gardner-Webb…
"We're just focusing on our side and how we can earn our own points and just keeping our play clean and scrappy at the same time, keeping balls off the floor and transitioning balls out."
 
UP Next for the Spartans
After a pair of road matches against regional rivals, USC Upstate volleyball returns to the G.B. Hodge Center for the final time next weekend for a pair of Big South matches. The Spartans host Winthrop next Friday (6 p.m. ET) before welcoming Charleston Southern Saturday (2 p.m.).
 
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