Sixteen Total Team Blocks and Multiple Career Highs Highlight Volleyball's First Day at the Buccaneer Classic

Friday, September 9

Johnson City, Tenn.

2:00 p.m.

University of South Carolina Upstate Athletics

1-6,0-0Big South

Clemson

6-2,0-0ACC

USC Upstate

Clemson

Photo by: Ryan Frye

9/9/2022 9:22:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. – Facing back-to-back matches for the first time this season, USC Upstate volleyball engaged in a pair of battles to open the Buccaneer Classic, outblocking Clemson and taking a set from Georgia State as the first day of play at the event came Friday night.

Match One (Clemson 3; USC Upstate 0)
Competing against a team from the Upstate of South Carolina in a neutral site to open the Buccaneer Classic, Upstate didn't back down and pushed Clemson through the first two sets before falling in three sets by scores of 18-25, 19-25, and 13-25.

Continuing its streak of matches with 5.0 or more total blocks to open the 2022 season, the Spartans recorded 8.0 total team blocks to the Tigers' 6.0 total blocks, securing the team's fourth match on the season outblocking its opponent.

Leading the Upstate block, junior middle blocker Nikki Deslatte, freshman middle blocker MJ Klaumann, and senior right-side hitter Briana Strobert each recorded three total blocks apiece. Deslatte, Klaumann, and freshman middle blocker Ady O'Grady each claimed a solo block, giving the Spartans a season-high solo block total of three.

Adding to her three total blocks, Strobert collected a team-high eight kills, putting forth a team-high 9.5 points in the match. Picking up eight terminations with two errors on 18 attacks, she hit .333 for the match, posting a hitting efficiency of .300 or better for the sixth time this season.

Just behind Strobert in the box score, sophomore outside hitter Ashleigh Nicoll and Deslatte contributed six and five kills, respectively, as the trio of attackers combined for 19 of the team's 26 kills. Of the Spartans' 26 kills, 24 came with an assist as junior setter Emma McElveen passed out a team-high 15 helpers.

Match Two (Georgia State 3; USC Upstate 1)
Looking to build upon the momentum of outblocking Clemson in the team's opening match of the Buccaneer Classic, Upstate added another 8.0 total team blocks and took a set from Georgia State in the Spartans' second match of the day before falling in the match behind scores of 20-25, 26-24, 22-25, and 20-25.

Following up on the team's 8.0 total blocks in the day's opening match, the Spartans tacked on another 8.0 total team blocks, eclipsing 5.0 total team blocks for the eighth time this season while running the team's block total to 16.0 for the weekend.

For the second consecutive match, junior middle blocker Nikki Deslatte and freshman middle blocker MJ Klaumann registered three total blocks apiece, being joined by freshman right-side hitter Savannah Page who added three total blocks of her own. Tying the Clemson match, Upstate recorded three solo blocks with each of the aforementioned trio recording a solo block.

Complimenting the team's blocking total, the Spartans landed seven service aces against the Panthers—the most aces in a match since the season opener. Overall, five Spartans aced a winner with freshman defensive specialist Jaci Drinnon and sophomore libero Julia Gladhill each landing two aces.

Offensively, a pair of outside hitters, junior Zelasia Edwards and sophomore Ashleigh Nicoll, posted career-high kill totals, putting forth nine and 12 kills, respectively. Nicoll's 12 kills marked a single-match high for an Upstate attacker this season while marking her second double-digit kill match of the year. Adding nine digs, she finished just shy of her first career double-double.

Leading the floor defense, Gladhill scooped up 10 digs, reaching double-figure digs for the second time this season. As a team, Upstate dug up 51 balls with 12 players recording at least one dig.

UP Next for the Spartans
Following two matches Friday at the Buccaneer Classic, Upstate wraps the event Saturday afternoon against host East Tennessee State. The Spartans and Buccaneers tangle at 1 p.m. ET with the match airing on ESPN+.

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