Weekend Matchups
October 13, 2023 | 6:00 p.m. ET
USC Upstate (9-8; 2-3 Big South) at Winthrop (5-11; 4-1 Big South)
Winthrop Coliseum | Rock Hill, S.C.
 
October 14, 2023 | 4:00 p.m.
USC Upstate (9-8; 2-3 Big South) at Gardner-Webb (8-9; 2-3 Big South)
Paul Porter Arena | Boiling Springs, N.C.
 
TV: ESPN+ | Via WatchESPN.com or the ESPN App
 
How They Stack Up
vs. Winthrop
Records: USC Upstate (9-8; 2-3 Big South); Winthrop (5-11; 4-1 Big South)
Series: Winthrop leads 10-2
Last Five Meetings: Nov. 4, 2022 (WIN 3; UPST 0); Oct. 8, 2022 (WIN 3; UPST 0); Oct. 30, 2021 (WIN 3; UPST 0); Oct. 8, 2021 (UPST 3; WIN 1); Feb. 12, 2021 (WIN 3; UPST 0)
 
vs. Gardner-Webb
Records: USC Upstate (9-8; 2-3 Big South); Gardner-Webb (8-9; 2-3 Big South)
Series: Upstate leads 10-9
Last Five Meetings: Oct. 29, 2022 (GWU 3; UPST 0); Sep. 29, 2022 (GWU 3; UPST 2); Oct. 29, 2021 (UPST 3; GWU 0); Oct. 9, 2021 (UPST 3; GWU 0; Feb. 19, 2021 (GWU 3; UPST 2)
 
Players to Watch
USC Upstate: Entering the weekend, sophomore middle blocker Ady O'Grady finds herself ranked top-10 in the Big South in four different statistical categories, ranking third in the league in hitting percentage (.304) and points per set (3.58), and ranking eighth in the conference in kills per set (2.80) and blocks per set (0.88). She's the lone player in the league to rank in the top 10 in each of the aforementioned categories as she's totaled 211.5 points, 165 kills, and 52 blocks this season.
 
Winthrop: Leading the Eagles to a sweep last weekend while tallying 29 kills and a .386 hitting efficiency, senior middle blocker/right-side hitter Brookelynn Thomas earned Big South Player of the Week honors. She ranks top-10 in the league in three different statistical categories as she ranks fourth in the conference in hitting percentage (.294), and sixth in both blocks per set (0.97) and points per set (3.33).
 
Gardner-Webb: Scooping up 300-plus digs this year and averaging 4.85 digs per set, sophomore libero Sophia Kotsovolos leads the Big South in digs per set as she's one of two league liberos to average 4.00 or more digs per set. She's dug double-figure balls in each of her last eight matches and in 15 total matches this season while picking up 20 or more balls on six occasions.
 
Last Times Out
October 6, 2023: High Point 3; USC Upstate 0
October 7, 2023: Radford 3; USC Upstate 1
 
UP Next for the Spartans
As the Spartans close out their four-match road swing, Upstate sets its sights on its next Big South weekend at the G.B. Hodge Center. The weekend begins the rematch portion of the team's league slate as Radford and High Point head to the Hodge on Oct. 20 (6 p.m.) and Oct. 21 (4 p.m.), respectively.
 
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