SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Closing out a three-match Big South homestand Saturday at the G.B. Hodge Center by going for the best start to conference play in the Division I era (2007-pres.), USC Upstate volleyball fell just short of a 3-0 start, falling in four sets against Presbyterian. Despite the loss, the Spartans tied their best start in league play in the D1 era, doing so for the fourth time.
 
Game Information
Score: Presbyterian 3; USC Upstate 1 (12-25; 52-19; 25-23; 25-23)
Records: USC Upstate (9-6; 2-1 Big South); Presbyterian (5-9; 3-0 Big South)
Location: G.B. Hodge Center | Spartanburg, S.C.
 
How It Happened
Back on the court at the G.B. Hodge Center for the third time in three matches and the fifth time this season, Upstate jumped out to an early lead by taking the first set for the seventh consecutive match, capturing the set 25-12. The Blue Hose responded by taking set two to send the match tied into the third set before the third and fourth sets proved battles as each came down to the final points with Presbyterian taking both sets by scores of 25-23.
 
Finishing up a strong weekend, junior setter Kayla Spangler followed up her 61-assist match Friday with another 43 assists Saturday afternoon, exceeding 10 assists per set for the second straight match. She led the Spartans' offense to a .213 hitting percentage as Upstate hit .200 or better for the second straight match and the tenth time this season. Spangler also contributed 14 digs to secure her fifth double-double of the year, recording a double-double in consecutive matches for the first time in her career.
 
Topping the Spartans' offense, junior outside hitter Ashleigh Nicoll registered a team-high 12 kills behind a .209 hitting efficiency while adding 10 digs to tally her seventh double-double of the year. Joining Nicoll with double-figure kills, sophomore middle blocker Ady O'Grady totaled 11 kills (.324 hitting percentage) with sophomore right-side hitter MJ Klaumann ending just shy of double-digits with nine kills (.400 hitting percentage).
 
With eight kills and 12 digs, senior outside hitter Zelasia Edwards neared a double-double, marking the third Spartan with 10 or more digs in the match alongside Nicoll and Spangler. Senior libero Caroline Cleveland led the quartet of Spartans with double-digit digs as she scooped up a match-best 22 digs. She averaged 5.5 digs per set in the match, giving her back-to-back matches averaging five or more digs per set on the weekend.
 
UP Next for the Spartans
Following the team's three-match homestand to open Big South Conference play, USC Upstate returns to the road for the first time during league play, heading to High Point and Radford next weekend. The Spartans and Panthers face off Friday at 6 p.m. ET before the Spartans and Highlanders compete Saturday at 4 p.m.
 
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