STATESBORO, Ga. – Concluding the opening weekend of action at the Bash in the Boro, USC Upstate volleyball wrapped play at the event with a straight set setback against host Georgia Southern behind scores of 23-25, 16-25, and 8-25.
 
The Spartans battled to open the match, pushing their hosts to the final points in the first set before succumbing in sets two and three. In the match, two Spartans, sophomore right-side hitter Kate Idrogo and freshman middle blocker Ady O'Grady made their USC Upstate debuts, running the total of debuting Spartans to 10 for the weekend.
 
For the third straight match, Upstate equaled or outblocked its opponent, posting 6.0 total team blocks, tallying 5.0 or more total blocks in all three matches this weekend. Junior middle blocker Nikki Deslatte led the Spartans for the third straight match, posting three total blocks with sophomore outside hitter Ashleigh Nicoll and freshman right-side hitter Savannah Page adding two total blocks apiece.
 
Also on the defensive end, the Spartans dug up 40 or more balls in a three-set match for the third time in as many matches, registering 40 digs against Georgia Southern. Wearing the libero's jersey for the second consecutive match, freshman Jaci Drinnon bested her 12 digs from the morning's match with a career-high 14 in the nightcap to lead Upstate.
 
Offensively, the Spartans collected 25 kills with an assist on each kill as junior setter Emma McElveen and sophomore setter Kayla Spangler tallied 11 assists apiece in the match. Pacing Upstate for the second time this season, Nicoll recorded six kills with fellow outside hitter, junior Zelasia Edwards adding five. Leading the Spartans in hitting percentage, Page slammed home four kills without an error on nine swings.
 
For her efforts throughout the Bash in the Boro, senior right-side hitter Briana Strobert earned a spot on the event's All-Tournament Team. She finished the weekend with a team-high 18 kills and a .375 hitting percentage over eight sets.
 
UP Next for the Spartans
Continuing the pre-conference tournament portion of the team's schedule, Upstate returns to the Hub City next weekend for the three-match Wofford Invitational. The Spartans face Appalachian State and Eastern Kentucky on Sep. 2 before concluding the event against host Wofford on Sep. 3.
 
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