SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Competing in front of a home crowd at the G.B. Hodge Center for the first time during the 2023 season and the Ali Skayhan era of USC Upstate volleyball, the Spartans continued their best start to a season since 2015 with a pair of sweeps Saturday, downing South Carolina State and Georgia State in straight sets.
 
Leading to two victories, Upstate posted hitting efficiencies greater than .300 in back-to-back matches for the first time since at least the 2010 season (match-by-match statistical data is limited leading up to the 2010 season). The Spartans hit a combined .363 on the day, hitting a season-high .381 versus South Carolina State and .346 versus Georgia State. Defensively, Upstate held the Bulldogs and Panthers to a combined .110 hitting efficiency, including holding Georgia State to a .018 hitting percentage—the lowest opponent's hitting efficiency against the Spartans since Oct. 3, 2022, when South Carolina State hit -.165.
 
Game Information (Match One)
Score: USC Upstate 3; South Carolina State 0 (25-22; 25-13; 25-20)
Records: USC Upstate (3-1; 0-0 Big South); South Carolina State (0-7; 0-0 MEAC)
Location: G.B. Hodge Center | Spartanburg, S.C.
 
How It Happened (Match One)
Making its debut at the G.B. Hodge Center, USC Upstate wasted little time in earning its first home victory under head coach Ali Skayhan, earning a straight-set victory over South Carolina State as Upstate crafted its most efficient match since Aug. 26, 2022, versus Alcorn State (.413), hitting .381 against the Bulldogs.
 
A pair of outside hitters, senior Zelasia Edwards and junior Ashleigh Nicoll, recorded double-digit kills while posting career-high hitting percentage (min. 10 attempts) as each hit greater than .400. Nicoll led the Spartans with a match-best 11 kills, recording her kills on 23 attempts, committing just one error to fashion a .435 hitting efficiency. Edwards recorded 10 kills with two errors on 19 attacks for a .421 hitting percentage.
 
Nearly joining Edwards and Nicoll in double-figures, sophomore right-side hitter MJ Klaumann recorded a career-best nine kills, hitting .500 in the match, posting a hitting percentage of .500 or better (min. 10 attempts) for the second time in her career.
 
Securing her third career double-double, Nicoll scooped up 10 balls, tying junior libero Julia Gladhill for the team lead in the category. Nicoll also led the Spartans in service aces for the fourth consecutive match to start the season, landing four service aces in a five-point stretch during the second set, including three straight aces.
 
Pacing the Upstate offense, junior setter Kayla Spangler continued her streak of matches with 25 or more assists, passing out 30-plus helpers for the second time in her career with 33 total assists. She added in a pair of kills, tying a career-high, doing so on four attempts without an error.
 
Game Information (Match Two)
Score: USC Upstate 3; Georgia State 0 (25-18; 25-13; 25-20)
Records: USC Upstate (4-1; 0-0 Big South); Georgia State (3-3; 0-0 Sun Belt)
Location: G.B. Hodge Center | Spartanburg, S.C.
 
How It Happened (Match Two)
Seeking an undefeated day at the Wofford/Upstate Tournament and its first win in its series with Georgia State, USC Upstate swept the Panthers to earn an undefeated event and a winning streak at the Hodge by consecutive sweeps at home for the first time since Oct. 9 through Oct. 23 (three matches).
 
Following up on its season-best .381 hitting efficiency from its opening match of the twin bill, Upstate added a .346 team hitting efficiency against Georgia State. Junior outside hitter Ashleigh Nicoll and sophomore middle blocker Ady O'Grady registered double-figure kill totals, recording 17 and 10 terminations, respectively.
 
Behind a season-high 17 kills—one kill shy of her career-best total—and 10 digs, Nicoll secured her fourth career and second straight double-double becoming the first Spartan since Allie Hamsher versus High Point and North Carolina A&T on Nov. 13 and Nov. 19, 2021, to record a double-double in consecutive matches.
 
Hitting .714, recording 10 kills without error on 14 swings, O'Grady's hitting efficiency marked a career-high (min. 10 attempts). She also added six total blocks (two block solos and four block assists), tying her season high in the category.
 
Joining Nicoll with double-digit digs, junior libero Julia Gladhill and senior defensive specialist Caroline Cleveland picked up 10 or more digs, scooping up 17 and 12 digs, respectively. With a team-high dig total, Gladhill upped her consecutive double-digit dig match total to eight while Cleveland scooped up a season-high dig total.
 
Continuing her streak of matches with 25 or more assists, junior setter Kayla Spangler dished out 31 helpers to become the first Spartan setter since Savannah Page (Sep. 22, 2022, vs. Presbyterian and Sep. 24, 2022, vs. High Point) to pass out 30 or more assists in consecutive matches. She added to her efficient afternoon as well, dumping in a career-high three kills, doing so without an error on six attempts.
 
UP Next for the Spartans
Coming off its two-game homestand at the G.B. Hodge Center, Upstate returns to the road for its lone non-conference midweek match of the season. The Spartans, however, remain in the Upstate region, travelling to Furman Tuesday with first serve slated for 7:00 p.m. ET.
 
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