CHARLESTON, S.C. – In what is proving a trend in the series as both sides feature second-year head coaches establishing new eras of volleyball in their respective programs, Friday night's meeting between USC Upstate and Charleston Southern saw the opening match of the season set between the two clubs head to a fifth game.
 
Whereas last season's meeting saw the two sides trade set victories, the latest edition in the series saw the Buccaneers jump out to a two-sets-to-one advantage. Alas, Friday's match ended—much like a year ago—with a Spartan win as Upstate battled back, taking the fourth and fifth sets to capture the team's eighth victory in the 10-match series.
 
Game Information
Score: USC Upstate 3; Charleston Southern 2 (25-19; 19-25; 17-25; 25-23; 16-14)
Records: USC Upstate (7-11; 2-3 Big South); Charleston Southern (4-15; 1-5 Big South)
Location: Buccaneer Fieldhouse | Charleston, S.C.
 
How It Happened
Facing its third straight five-set tilt, Upstate exhibited its trademark grit and determination as it didn't shy away after trailing following three sets, fighting its way back to take the final two stanzas and the victory. Securing the first, fourth, and fifth sets, the Spartans combined for 41 kills and a .291 hitting efficiency in the three periods, hitting .250 or better in each individual set.
 
Extending a stretch that has seen her exceed her career-high kill total entering Big South Conference play, junior right-side hitter Savannah Page led Upstate's offense for the second time in three matches, turning in 15 terminations Friday. Graduate student outside hitter Allison Palmi and fifth-year senior outside hitter Ali Jansen joined Page in double-figures, registering 13 and 12 kills, respectively, with Jansen's 12 kills marking her high-water mark wearing a Spartan uniform.
 
Directing the Upstate offense, freshman setter Kamyla Vega David, again, notched a 48-plus assist match—her third straight—finishing the night with 48 helpers. She complemented the total with another 18-plus dig match, exceeding the 20-dig threshold for the first time in her career, ending the evening with a career-best 22 for her 12^th double-double of 2024.
 
Joining Vega David with 20 or more digs for the Spartans, helping the team to 90-plus digs for the third consecutive match, senior libero Julia Gladhill picked up a match-best 23 digs, going north of 20 for the third straight match. Joining the double-digit dig party, freshman defensive specialist Hannah Campbell and redshirt senior defensive specialist Caroline Cleveland scooped up 15 balls apiece.
 
In service, Cleveland led all Upstate servers with a career-high-tying three service aces, landing half of the team's total for the match.
 
Up Next for the Spartans
Facing a non-traditional weekend during conference play, USC Upstate returns to action Sunday afternoon with a short trip to Clinton, S.C. The Spartans meet Presbyterian at 2 p.m. ET following an off-day Saturday.
 
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