GREENSBORO, N.C. – Closing the opening day of the 2024 season and the UNCG Spartan Classic, USC Upstate volleyball faced its first five-set set test in 11 months—since Sep. 29, 2023—as it battled Robert Morris in its second match of the day. The Spartans captured the first two sets of the night by scores of 25-15 and 25-14, respectively, however, they succumbed to the Colonials in the thriller, dropping the final three stanzas by marks of 21-25, 15-25, and 13-15.
Following up the successful debuts of three Spartan newcomers in the day's opener, it was the program's Preseason All-Big South selection that shone in the night cap. Junior middle blocker
Ady O'Grady fabricated her third career double-double with 14 kills and 11 total blocks versus Robert Morris. Her 11 total blocks were comprised of one solo block and 10 block assists, tying the program's Division I era (2007-pres.) records for both total blocks and block assists in a single match.
Game Information
Score: Robert Morris 3; USC Upstate 2 (15-25; 14-25; 25-21; 25-15; 15-13)
Records: USC Upstate (0-2; 0-0 Big South); Robert Morris (1-1; 0-0 Horizon League)
Location: Fleming Gymnasium | Greensboro, N.C.
How It Happened
Setting the tone early in the match—and carrying over its momentum accrued in the day's opening match versus Missouri State—Upstate used its block to great effect, tallying 8.5 of its 14.5 team total blocks in the first two sets. Leading to 5.0 total blocks for the Spartans in the second period, O'Grady collected five (one solo and four assists) of her turn-backs in the set.
Complementing O'Grady—and teaming with her much of the night—graduate student outside hitter
Allison Palmi accrued a career-high seven blocks, all assists, while junior right-side hitter
Savannah Page tied a career-high with four total blocks with the trio pacing the Spartans in the category.
Behind the block, the Upstate defense scooped up 88 total balls, the most in a single match for the program since its last five-set match. Captaining the team's back line, senior libero
Julia Gladhill picked up 22 digs, running her streak of consecutive matches with double-figure digs to 13. Joining Gladhill with 20-plus balls, redshirt freshman outside hitter
Bri Brathol totaled a career-best 20 digs.
Adding 14 digs, to go along with 15 assists, freshman setter
Kamyla Vega David secured her first career double-double. Fellow setter, senior
Kayla Spangler chipped in 23 helpers on the night.
Notable
- Behind her 11 total blocks against Robert Morris, Ady O'Grady tied the program's Division I era (2007-pres.) single-match total blocks record, equaling Emily Russell's total versus Georgia Southern on Sep. 14, 2018. In tying the mark, O'Grady becomes the eighth different Spartan in the era with 10 or more total blocks in a match.
- Collecting 10 block assists Friday night, O'Grady also tied the program's D1 era single-match block assists record, tying Sandra Campbell (Nov. 2, 2007, vs. Mercer), Erin Jacobsen (Oct. 23, 2009, vs. North Florida), and Russell (Sep. 14, 2018, vs. Georgia Southern). O'Grady is the fourth different Spartan in the D1 era with double-digit block assists in a match.
- Seeing Julia Gladhill and Bri Brathol scoop up 22 and 20 digs, respectively, Upstate's match versus Robert Morris is the first with two or more players accruing 20-plus digs in the same match since Oct. 8, 2021 when three players did so against Winthrop.
Up Next for the Spartans
USC Upstate concludes opening weekend action Saturday at the UNCG Spartan Classic, facing host UNC Greensboro in an all-Spartan match. First serve for the closing Spartan Classic tilt is set for 2 p.m. ET.
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