Weekday MatchUPs
September 29, 2022 | 6:00 p.m. ET
USC Upstate (3-11; 1-1 Big South) vs. Gardner-Webb (2-12; 0-2 Big South)
September 30, 2022 | 6:00 p.m.
USC Upstate (3-11; 1-1 Big South) vs. UNC Asheville (3-9; 0-2 Big South)
G.B. Hodge Center | Spartanburg, S.C.
 
TV: ESPN+ | Via WatchESPN.com or the ESPN App
 
Series History
vs. Gardner-Webb: In one of the longer-running series in Upstate's Division I era (2007-pres.), Upstate and Gardner-Webb are meeting for the 18^th time on the court Thursday. The Spartans lead the series 10-7 and have taken eight of the last nine meetings with the Runnin' Bulldogs, including a pair of sweeps last season.
 
vs. UNC Asheville: Another longstanding series for the Spartans, Upstate and UNC Asheville have met 16 previous times with Friday's matchup marking the 17^th in the series. Overall, the Bulldogs lead the series 9-7, but the Spartans have taken three straight matches via sweep, including last season's lone match between the two clubs.
 
Last Times Out
September 22, 2022: USC Upstate 3; Presbyterian 1
September 24, 2022: High Point 3; USC Upstate 1
 
Players to Watch
Upstate: Leading the Spartans in kills versus High Point last Saturday, senior right-side hitter Briana Strobert threw down 14 kills, tying teammate, freshman middle blocker Ady O'Grady versus Presbyterian, for the single-match high for kills in a Big South match. Entering the second week of league play, she ranks top-10 in the conference in four statistical categories, including ranking fifth in kills per set (3.00) during Big South play.
 
Gardner-Webb: Leading the Runnin' Bulldogs this season, graduate outside hitter/right-side hitter Kylee Garrison ranks fourth in the Big South in kills, kills per set, and points. She's totaled 170 kills over 54 sets, averaging 3.15 kills per set while she's added 24 total blocks and five service aces as she's tallied 190.5 points this season. Garrison has posted double-digit kills on nine occasions this season, putting up
 
UNC Asheville: Collecting double-figure digs in 11 of her 12 matches in a Bulldog uniform this season, junior libero Giulia Rodrigues ranks second in the Big South in digs per set (4.49) and fourth in total digs (173) this season. She's posted two matches with 20 or more digs this season, including a career-best 26 against Queens in the season's opening weekend.
 
Quotable (Sophomore Defensive Specialist Julia Gladhill)
On how the team's tough preseason prepared the team for the opening week of Big South play…
"Preseason definitely prepared us [for Big South play]. We had a lot of hard teams and we're new and we were trying to work out some of the kinks. I think we've come together a lot better."
 
On how the team's performance in the first week of Big South play helped build confidence moving forward…
"It built a lot of confidence for us. We just need to keep that energy coming into the rest of the season and I think we're going to be great."
 
UP Next for the Spartans
At the conclusion of the second week of Big South play, Upstate embarks on its final foray with non-conference play, wrapping up its non-conference slate with a trip to South Carolina State Monday. The match which features a 7 p.m. ET first serve time kicks off a three-match week for the Spartans.
 
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