CLINTON, S.C. – Embarking on the start of a new season, USC Upstate volleyball started its new journey on the right foot with a four-set victory over regional rival Presbyterian to open Big South play Thursday evening, taking the match behind scores of 17-25, 25-23, 25-20, 25-22.
 
After dropping the opening set, the Spartans answered their opponent's challenge and took the fight to the Blue Hose for the remainder of the match, spending the majority of that time with momentum in tow. Upstate gathered its momentum by pressing its opponent in service, keeping Presbyterian off-balance offensively for much of the final three sets while tallying seven service aces, and at the net, accruing a season-high 15.0 total blocks.
 
Offensively, freshman middle blocker Ady O'Grady put forth a career-best performance, leading the way with a match and career-high 14 kills as she hit .500 for the match (14-2-24)—the best single-match hitting percentage (min. 12 kills) for a Spartan this season. She also added a career-best seven digs while tying her career-high with six total blocks in an all-around effort.
 
Joining O'Grady in double-figures in the kill column of the box score, senior right-side hitter Briana Strobert added 10 kills with junior middle blocker Nikki Deslatte finishing just behind O'Grady and Strobert with seven kills. Pacing the offense, freshman setter Savannah Page passed out a career-best 34 assists, adding a team-high 14 digs to secure her second career double-double.
 
Leading to the team's 15.0 total team blocks, Deslatte and O'Grady formed a formidable tandem in the middle for the Spartans, combining for 14 total blocks between the pair. Deslatte led Upstate with a career-high-tying eight blocks comprised of a career-best three solo blocks and five block assists. O'Grady (six), Page (four), and Strobert (four) joined Deslatte as Spartans with four or more total blocks on the night.
 
In service, Upstate landed seven service aces led by junior outside hitter Zelasia Edwards' career-high four winners which helped Upstate gain momentum and spark scoring runs in the second and third sets. Also earning aces were sophomore defensive specialist Julia Gladhill and sophomore outside hitter Ashleigh Nicoll with two and one aces, respectively.
 
UP Next for the Spartans
As Big South play continues, the Spartans now turn their attention to the first conference match at the G.B. Hodge Center as High Point comes to Spartanburg Saturday afternoon. The match features a 1 p.m. ET first serve as a home doubleheader with Upstate women's soccer (4 p.m. vs. Charleston Southern)
 
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