ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Looking to grab momentum heading into the 2024 Big South Volleyball Championship after solidifying its seeding Tuesday evening, USC Upstate volleyball earned a season sweep of the Ingles I-26 Rivalry Series behind the program's first victory in the Justice Center, dispatching UNC Asheville in a 3-1 victory Saturday afternoon.
 
The win marked Upstate's eighth in Big South play this season, tied for the second-most conference victories in a single season in the program's Division I era (2007-pres.) as Upstate finished above .500 in league play for the second time in the era. The Spartans' latest victory saw them overcome a setback in the first to come back and win for the second straight match after entering the week 0-11 in such instances in 2024.
 
With the conclusion of the 2024 regular season, Upstate earns its highest-ever conference finish in the D1 era, claiming the No. 3 seed in next weekend's Big South Championship. The Spartans draw No. 6 Presbyterian in the first round with first serve set for 6 p.m. ET Friday in High Point, N.C.
 
Game Information
Score: USC Upstate 3; UNC Asheville 1 (14-25; 25-22; 25-23; 25-18)
Records: USC Upstate (13-14; 8-6 Big South); UNC Asheville (11-11; 5-9 Big South)
Location: Justice Center | Asheville, N.C.
 
How It Happened
Displaying a skill that is crucial to success in the postseason—finding a way to win when your opponent nullifies your strength, the Spartans found a way to break through Saturday despite just one attacker reaching double-digit kills. Upstate capitalized in the service game, taking advantage of 14 Asheville service errors, against just one of its own, while also pressing the Bulldogs defensively at the net, posting 10 team total blocks.
 
Junior middle blocker Ady O'Grady led Upstate at the net, recording a team-high five total blocks, all assists, as she tallied her fifth match of the season with five-plus total blocks. Just behind her with four total blocks apiece were junior middle blocker Alona Clinansmith (one solo and three block assists) and junior right-side hitter Savannah Page (four block assists).
 
Behind the block, the Spartans' floor defense averaged 17.25 digs per set, collecting 69 over the match's four-set duration. Freshman setter Kamyla Vega David again paced the defense, digging 22 balls Saturday after pulling up a career-best 30 Tuesday. Surpassing the 500-dig plateau for the season with her 12 digs, senior libero Julia Gladhill becomes the sixth Spartan in program history to total 500 or more digs in a single season, joining Kaleigh Kelley (595 in 2016) as the lone player to accomplish the feat in the D1 era.
 
Offensively, fifth-year senior outside hitter Ali Jansen led Upstate with 10 kills, headlining a trio of attackers with nine-plus kills. Graduate student outside hitter Allison Palmi and Page rounded out the trio with nine terminations each.
 
Notable

• With her 12 digs Saturday, Julia Gladhill becomes the second player in the program's Division I era (2007-pres.) and the sixth player in program history to surpass 500 digs in a season. Her 507 digs in 2024 lead the Big South at the conclusion of the regular season.
• With its win Saturday, Upstate secured its first season sweep of UNC Asheville since taking both matches from the Bulldogs in the 2020-21 season. The Spartans' victory at Asheville marks the first in program history at the Justice Center.
• Upstate's win Saturday marked its eighth Big South victory of the season, tying for the second-most conference victories for the program in the D1 era. The 2024 season also stands as the second time Upstate finishes with a conference record greater than .500, last doing so with a 10-6 campaign in 2021.

 
Up Next for the Spartans
With the conclusion of the 2024 regular season, Upstate earns its highest-ever conference finish in the D1 era, claiming the No. 3 seed in next weekend's Big South Championship. The Spartans draw No. 6 Presbyterian in the first round with first serve set for 6 p.m. ET Friday in High Point, N.C.
 
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