Ali Jansen and Ashleigh Nicoll Post Double-Figure Kills For Volleyball in Setback at UNC Asheville

Friday, October 28

Asheville, N.C.

6:00 p.m.

University of South Carolina Upstate Athletics

6-18,3-8Big South

UNC Asheville

4-18,1-11Big South

USC Upstate

UNC Asheville

Ali Jansen Celebration Post-Kill vs. AVL 2022

Photo by: Ryan Frye

10/28/2022 9:12:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Opening the weekend with the first of two matches versus regional rivals, USC Upstate volleyball found itself on the wrong side of the decision Friday night, dropping its match against UNC Asheville in straight sets by scores of 23-25, 16-25, and 17-25.

Leading the way for the Spartans offensively, sophomore outside hitter Ashleigh Nicoll and junior right-side hitter Ali Jansen reached double-figure kills for the third and second straight match, tying for the match high with 10 kills apiece. For Jansen, her 10 kills came behind a .241 hitting efficiency as she tied a season-high with her kill total.

Orchestrating the Upstate offense, setters, sophomore Kayla Spangler and freshman Savannah Page combined to pass out 27 of the team's 35 assists, totaling 14 and 13 assists, respectively. As a team, the Spartans picked up an assist on each of the team's kills.

Defensively, the Upstate floor defense totaled 18.0 digs per set on the night, scooping up 54 digs over the three-set match, marking the seventh time during Big South play the Spartans have averaged 15.0 or more digs per set in a match. Following up on her 31 digs last time out against Presbyterian, sophomore libero Julia Gladhill exceed 5.0 digs per set for the second straight match, digging up a team-best 16 balls.

Behind Gladhill defensively, sophomore defensive specialist Sami Allen and Spangler dug up a combined 15 balls, tallying eight and seven digs, respectively. Overall, seven Spartans recorded four or more digs in the match.

In service, four Spartans landed a service ace with Allen, Gladhill, Nicoll, and Spangler picking up winners.

UP Next for the Spartans
Wrapping up the team's two-game road swing, Upstate makes the trip to Boiling Springs, N.C. for a meeting with the Runnin' Bulldogs of Gardner-Webb. First serve is set for 6 p.m. ET.

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