JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Opening its final non-conference weekend of the season, USC Upstate volleyball showed its toughness as it entered some unfamiliar territory for the season, heading to the fifth and fourth set, respectively, in its two matches after seeing the fourth set just once—in the season opener—this season.
Upstate battled throughout its first match of the season, going to the fifth set for the first time this season against South Florida, battling until the final points before falling in the thriller. The Spartans responded in their second match, defeating Alabama A&M in four sets.
Propelling itself to a successful first day of the UNF Sunshine Invitational, Upstate's block combined for 15.5 blocks on the day while the team's defense held its opponents to a combined .174 hitting efficiency. The Spartans collected 10.5 total team blocks against South Florida, the most in a single match for the team this season and the second time Upstate has eclipsed 10 total blocks in a match this year.
Game Information (Match One)
Score: South Florida 3; USC Upstate 2 (22-25; 25-22; 24-26; 25-12; 15-13)
Records: USC Upstate (5-5; 0-0 Big South); South Florida (4-5; 0-0 AAC)
Location: UNF Arena | Jacksonville, Fla.
How It Happened (Match One)
For the first time this season, USC Upstate found itself in the fifth set, battling to take a two-sets-to-one lead after capturing the first and third set from South Florida. Despite dropping the fourth set, the Spartans fought back to hold a lead late in the set, before the Bulls captured the victory, reeling off the final five points for the victory.
At the net, Upstate totaled a season-best 10.5 team total blocks, holding South Florida to a .184 hitting percentage in the match. Posting a career-high blocking total, sophomore right-side hitter
MJ Klaumann tallied eight total blocks to lead the Spartans with sophomore middle blocker
Ady O'Grady adding a season-high-tying six total blocks. Sophomore middle blocker
Alona Clinansmith added four total blocks as she, Klaumann, and O'Grady combined for a triple block in the fifth set, the first such block by the Spartans this season.
Complementing her six total blocks, O'Grady tied for the team lead with 11 kills, securing her fifth double-digit kill match with a .276 hitting efficiency. Joining her atop the kills leaderboard, junior outside hitter
Ashleigh Nicoll also recorded 11 kills, her sixth double-digit termination match this season. Clinansmith and Klaumann added seven kills apiece with Clinansmith's total marking a career-high.
Running the team's offense, junior setter
Kayla Spangler dished out 35 assists on the afternoon, setting up one-half of her third career double-double and adding a career-high 16 digs on the afternoon. Adding to Spangler's 16 digs, senior libero
Caroline Cleveland picked up a season-high 19 balls with junior defensive specialist
Julia Gladhill adding another 10 to round out the trio with 10-plus digs.
Game Information (Match Two)
Score: USC Upstate 3; Alabama A&M 1 (25-13; 25-19; 20-25; 25-14)
Records: USC Upstate (6-5; 0-0 Big South); Alabama A&M (1-11; 0-0 SWAC)
Location: UNF Arena | Jacksonville, Fla.
How It Happened (Match Two)
Following up on its opening match of the UNF Sunshine Invitational, USC Upstate carried the momentum of its five-set fight against South Florida into its match with Alabama A&M, capturing a four-set victory to earn a split of day one of the event.
Leading the Spartans, senior middle blocker
Nikki Deslatte threw down a career-high 14 kills, reaching double-digit terminations for the first time this season, crafting a .462 hitting efficiency. Just behind Deslatte, junior outside hitter
Ashleigh Nicoll registered 13 kills, hitting .237 while scooping up a career-high 21 digs on the night, collecting her fourth double-double of the season and the fifth of her career.
Just shy of double-figures, sophomore right-side hitter
MJ Klaumann and senior outside hitter
Zelasia Edwards recorded seven and six kills, respectively, with Kluamann crafting a .333 hitting efficiency. Sophomore middle blocker
Ady O'Grady and junior setter
Kayla Spangler added five kills apiece as Spangler's total tied a career-high.
Adding to her career-high-tying five kills, Spangler passed out 33 assists, helping Upstate's offense to a .248 hitting efficiency. She also landed a career-high three service aces as the match marked the first of her career with multiple service aces.
Defensively, a pair of Spartans joined Nicoll with 10 or more digs on the night with junior libero
Julia Gladhill scooping up 17 balls and senior outside hitter
Zelasia Edwards adding 12 digs. Spangler added eight digs in the match, finishing just shy of double-figures.
UP Next for the Spartans
The Spartans return to action tomorrow afternoon to close the UNF Sunshine Invitational, competing against host North Florida. The match sees first serve set for 2:00 p.m. ET.
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