BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – Closing a stretch of three matches against regional rivals, USC Upstate volleyball couldn't find its footing in a straight set setback versus Gardner-Webb Saturday evening, falling by scores of 16-25; 15-25, and 22-25.
Despite dropping the first two sets, the Spartans didn't let a 2-0 deficit shake its resolve as the team showed fight in the third set keeping things close, seeing the match tied at 20-20 in the latter portion of the set. However, Gardner-Webb pulled away to take the match.
During the third set, Upstate hit .333—the team's best set hitting efficiency in the match—picking up 14 kills in the set. In the frame, junior right-side hitter
Ali Jansen recorded four of her team-high eight kills, hitting .250 in the set to lead the Spartans in kills for the second straight match.
Teaming with Jansen to lead the Spartans in kills for the third consecutive match, sophomore outside hitter
Ashleigh Nicoll added seven terminations as the duo combined for 15 of Upstate's 29 kills. On the weekend, the duo combined for 35 kills over two matches.
Adding a pair of kills each, setters, junior
Emma McElveen and sophomore
Kayla Spangler combined for a perfect hitting efficiency on setter attacks. McElveen added a team-best 11 assists with Spangler chipping in nine assists.
Defensively, sophomore libero
Julia Gladhill collected double-figure digs for the third straight game, leading the Spartans by scooping 11 balls. Behind Gladhill on the box score, sophomore defensive specialist
Sami Allen collected six balls Saturday after tallying seven Friday night.
UP Next for the Spartans
Wrapping up its two-match road swing, Upstate returns home to the G.B. Hodge Center for the final two home matches of the 2022 season. The Spartans host Winthrop next Friday at 6 p.m. ET before hosting Charleston Southern in the team's final home game next Saturday at 2 p.m.
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