HIGH POINT, N.C. – On the road for the first time during Big South Conference play, USC Upstate volleyball faced an opportunity to gain ground in the league standings against the team atop the conference, High Point. The Spartans battled the Panthers throughout the first two sets, playing High Point to two of its tightest sets during conference play before succumbing in straight sets.
Game Information
Score: High Point 3; USC Upstate 0 (25-21; 25-22; 25-13)
Records: USC Upstate (9-7; 2-2 Big South); High Point (10-6; 4-0 Big South)
Location: Millis Center | High Point, N.C.
How It Happened
Playing away from home for the first time in three matches and the first time during league play, Upstate didn't let the unfamiliar confines of the road sway its resolve as it battled through two close sets with High Point. The Spartans and Panthers went back and forth over the first two sets—separated by seven total points—as the sets saw 21 ties and eight lead changes.
In the straight-set match, the Spartans featured a balanced offense as five attackers tallied three or more kills on the night. Leading the attack, sophomore middle blocker
Ady O'Grady and junior outside hitter
Ashleigh Nicoll combined for 15 of Upstate's 26 kills, totaling eight and seven kills, respectively. Adding three kills apiece were senior middle blocker
Nikki Deslatte, senior outside hitter
Zelasia Edwards, and sophomore right-side hitter MJ Kluamann to round out the group of five attackers.
Pacing the offense, junior setter
Kayla Spangler passed out 23 assists, going over 20 assists in a match for the eighth straight match and the 15
th time in 16 matches this season. She supplemented her 23 assists with three digs and two kills as she's dumped in nine kills from her setter position in the Spartans' four Big South matches.
Defensively, sophomore defensive specialist
Julia Gladhill led the floor defense with 10 digs on the night while two other Spartans nearly joined her in double-figures in the category. Senior libero
Caroline Cleveland scooped up nine digs with Nicoll gathering eight. At the net, Upstate totaled three team total blocks with senior outside hitter
Zelasia Edwards and O'Grady leading the Spartans with two total blocks each.
In service, Upstate landed five or more aces for the 12
th time this season and the second time in as many matches with five service aces. Cleveland and Gladhill each tallied two service aces with Edwards adding the fifth for the Spartans.
UP Next for the Spartans
Closing out the first leg of the team's first Big South road trip of the season, Upstate heads to the Old Dominion for a meeting with Radford. The Spartans and Highlanders match in the Commonwealth of Virginia features a 4 p.m. ET first serve.
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