CHARLESTON, S.C. – Coming off its first midweek contest of the season, USC Upstate volleyball displayed its resolve as it battled to open the weekend and CofC Classic, pushing Pacific to its limit in a five-set tilt Friday evening.
 
The Spartans remained steadfast despite seeing the Tigers take the first set, battling back to take the following two games to carry a 2-1 set advantage. Pacific responded with a fourth-set victory before Upstate kept in lockstep in the fifth set—seeing the period knotted at 10 all late—before succumbing by a 15-10 margin.
 
Game Information
Score: Pacific 3; USC Upstate 2 (25-20; 19-25; 22-25; 25-16; 15-10)
Records: USC Upstate (0-5; 0-0 Big South); Pacific (3-2; 0-0 WCC)
Location: TD Arena | Charleston, S.C.
 
How It Happened
Facing its second straight five-set match and third of the season, Upstate offered an all-around effort with four Spartans recording nine or more kills and four players registering nine-plus digs. Friday's match also marked the fourth straight for the Spartans with multiple players recording a double-double with two registered against the Tigers.
 
Drawing into the starting lineup for the first time in her career, sophomore outside hitter Alyssa Hook was one of the four Spartans with nine-plus terminations, throwing down a career-best nine kills. Reaching double-figures in the kill column were graduate student outside hitter Allison Palmi and junior middle blocker Ady O'Grady who totaled 12 and 10, respectively.
 
Adding 12 digs on the night, Palmi notched her third consecutive double-double as she's one of two Spartans with a streak of three or more straight matches with a double-double. Freshman setter Kamyla Vega David—the lone Spartan with a longer streak of consecutive double-doubles—picked up her fourth straight double-double behind 20 assists and 13 digs.
 
Tying for the team lead and rounding out the trio of players with double-figure digs, senior libero Julia Gladhill picked up 13 balls, pushing her streak of consecutive matches with 10-plus digs to 16. Gladhill and Palmi also led Upstate from the service line, landing two winners apiece.
 
Notable

• Making her first career start, Alyssa Hook threw down a career-best nine kills in her season debut.
• Kennedy Lauck also made her season debut Friday versus Pacific.

 
Up Next for the Spartans
Upstate returns to action at the CofC Classic Saturday facing a pair of matches to conclude the event. The Spartans meet host College of Charleston at 11 a.m. ET before wrapping the day against Yale at 5 p.m.
 
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