UNF Sunshine Invitational
September 15, 2023 | 12:15 p.m./5:15 p.m. ET
USC Upstate (5-4; 0-0 Big South) vs. South Florida (3-5; 0-0 AAC)
USC Upstate (5-4; 0-0 Big South) vs. Alabama A&M (1-; 0-0 SWAC)
 
September 16, 2023 | 2:00 p.m.
USC Upstate (5-4; 0-0 Big South) vs. North Florida (5-4; 0-0 ASUN)
UNF Arena | Jacksonville, Fla.
 
TV: ESPN+ | Via WatchESPN.com or the ESPN App
 
How They Stack Up
vs. South Florida
Records: USC Upstate (5-4; 0-0 Big South); South Florida (3-5; 0-0 AAC)
Series: First Meeting
Last Five Meetings: First Meeting
 
vs. Alabama A&M
Records: USC Upstate (5-4; 0-0 Big South); Alabama A&M (1-9; 0-0 SWAC)
Series: USC Upstate leads 2-0
Last Five Meetings: Sep. 13, 2022 (UPST 3; AAMU 0); Sep. 20, 2019 (UPST 3; AAMU 1)
 
vs. North Florida
Records: USC Upstate (5-4; 0-0 Big South); North Florida (5-4; 0-0 ASUN)
Series: North Florida leads 14-8
Last Five Meetings: Sep. 8, 2018 (UNF 3; UPST 1); Nov. 10, 2017 (UNF 3; UPST 0); Oct. 1, 2017 (UPST 3; UNF 0); Nov. 17, 2016 (UPST 3; UNF 1); Nov. 5, 2016 (UPST 3; UNF 0)
 
Players to Watch
USC Upstate: Finishing her weekend with 14 kills in a sweep of North Carolina A&T, junior outside hitter Ashleigh Nicoll leads the Spartans in total kills (92) through the first three weekends of the season. She enters the UNF Sunshine Invitational ranked third in the Big South in kills per set and second in the league in points per set, averaging 3.29 kills and 3.79 points per set, respectively. Her 14-kill performance versus North Carolina A&T marked her fifth double-digit kill match of the season as she's also added double-figure dig totals in three of those matches, giving her a team-best three double-doubles this season.
 
South Florida: One of the top servers in the American Athletic Conference, sophomore outside hitter Buse Hazan ranks second in the league in service aces per set and fourth in total service aces, landing 14 aces over 30 sets to average 0.47 winners per frame. She also ranks second on the team in kills per set (2.87) as she's accrued 86 this season, including a season-high 20 kills—with a .405 hitting percentage—against Florida.
 
Alabama A&M: Coming off a season-high 19 kills against North Alabama Tuesday—one shy of her career-high—sophomore outside hitter Bailey Duckett leads the Bulldogs in kills this season with 82 on the year. She enters the weekend ranked fifth in the SWAC in kills per set, averaging 2.73 per set as she's tallied three double-figure kill matches this year.
 
North Florida: Helping the Osprey to a five-set win over Charlotte with a career-high 22 kills, junior outside hitter Kailey McKnight secured her eighth double-figure kill match of the season. She enters the weekend on a streak of six straight matches with 10 or more kills, ranking fourth in the ASUN in kills per set (3.61) points per set (4.09), total kills (119), and total points (135.0).
 
Last Times Out
September 8, 2023: Appalachian State 3; USC Upstate 0
September 8, 2023: UNC Greensboro 3; USC Upstate 0
September 9, 2023: USC Upstate 3; North Carolina A&T 0
 
UP Next for the Spartans
With the team's non-conference slate coming to a close following the UNF Sunshine Invitational, Upstate returns back to the G.B. Hodge Center for the opening of Big South Conference action. The Spartans host UNC Asheville for a 4:00 p.m. ET first serve on Sep. 23 to open league play.
 
Connect with the Spartans 
Facebook.com/UpstateAthletics 
Twitter | @UpstateVB | @UpstateSpartans 
Instagram | @UpstateVB | @UpstateSpartans 
YouTube.com/UpstateSpartans 
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