ROCK HILL, S.C. – Coming off a come-from-behind victory Friday night to extend its winning streak, USC Upstate volleyball nearly fabricated another comeback attempt with a furious second set before succumbing in three sets to host Winthrop Saturday afternoon.
After dropping the first set, the Spartans fought their way back to nearly erase the deficit in both the match and set in the second frame, pushing the set to extra points. Unfortunately, the momentum of the second set didn't carry over into the third as Winthrop completed the victory by scores of 12-25, 25-27, and 9-25.
Posting her fourth match this season hitting .400 or better, freshman middle blocker
Ady O'Grady recorded a team-best nine kills while hitting .471 for the match. She added three total blocks and six digs for the Spartans, affecting the game in multiple dimensions.
Finishing behind O'Grady on the kill leaderboard, a trio of Upstate attackers finished with four kills apiece with junior outside hitter
Zelasia Edwards, junior right-side hitter
Ali Jansen, and senior right-side hitter
Briana Strobert comprising the trio.
Defensively, four Spartans scooped up five or more digs as Upstate recorded 42 digs on the afternoon. Leading the way was junior setter
Emma McElveen who recorded seven digs while freshman libero
Jaci Drinnon and O'Grady added six apiece and sophomore libero
Kate Idrogo—donning the libero jersey for the first time this season—added five.
At the net, junior middle blocker
Nikki Deslatte and Strobert tallied four total blocks apiece, leading the Spartans to 8.0 total team blocks on the afternoon.
UP Next for the Spartans
Following a three-match road swing this past week, Upstate returns back to the G.B. Hodge Center next weekend for a Big South doubleheader. The Spartans host Campbell next Friday before hosting Radford on Saturday.
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