Emma DeSensi Serving vs. Winthrop Set 3 2025 - NM
Natalia Moll
3
Winner Winthrop Win 17-6,11-2 Big South
1
USC Upstate USCU 14-12,7-6 Big South
Winner
Winthrop Win
17-6,11-2 Big South
3
Final
1
USC Upstate USCU
14-12,7-6 Big South
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Winthrop Win 23 25 25 25 (3)
USC Upstate USCU 25 21 21 21 (1)

Game Recap: Women's Volleyball |

A Pair of Spartans Colllect Double-Figure Kills and Three Double-Digit Digs as Volleyball Battles Winthrop in its "Toys and Tiny Hearts" Match

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Hitting the court at the G.B. Hodge Center for the team's penultimate game of the 2025-26 regular season, USC Upstate battled Winthrop as it sought a season sweep of the Eagles Saturday afternoon. The Spartans jumped out to an early lead, capturing the opening set before fashioning comeback attempts in the next three stanzas, before ultimately succumbing in four sets.
 
The night also featured a strong fundraising effort on the part of the Upstate volleyball program, raising money and eliciting toy donations for the pediatric cardiology unit at Shawn Jenkins Children's Hospital, MUSC, as part of the team's "Toys and Tiny Hearts" game. The fundraiser honors two of the Spartans' own—head coach Ali Skayhan's son, Leo, and redshirt junior defensive specialist Emma DeSensi. Fans looking to donate can do so online using the following link: https://fundraise.musc.edu/fundraiser/6693430
 
Game Information
Score: Winthrop 3; USC Upstate 1 (23-25; 25-21; 25-21; 25-21)
Records: USC Upstate (14-12; 7-6 Big South); Winthrop (17-6; 11-2 Big South)
Location: G.B. Hodge Center | Spartanburg, S.C.
 
How It Happened
A night after becoming the 13th member of the program's 1,000-Kill Club, senior middle blocker Ady O'Grady returned to the team's lead on the offensive end, leading a pair of Spartans with double-figure kills. She collected a match-best 16 kills, fashioning her total behind a .343 hitting efficiency while adding a team-high four total blocks (one solo block and three block assists), tallying 20.5 points on the evening.
 
Continuing her quest for the program's single-season record for kills by a freshman, outside hitter Summer Kohler joined O'Grady in double-figures, adding 12 terminations to her season ledger. The match marked her 14th consecutive match with double-digit kills, moving her season total to 359 kills, the third-best total by a Spartan freshman in a single season.
 
Another Spartan coming off a major milestone accomplished Friday evening, freshman libero Sophia Overholt, the single-season record holder for digs by an Upstate freshman, scooped up another 18 balls Saturday, a match-high total. She was one of three Spartans digging 10 or more balls, joined by DeSensi and sophomore defensive specialist Hannan Campbell, who added 14 and 11 digs, respectively.
 
The third setter in the program's Division I era (2007-pres.) with a 1,000-assist season, sophomore setter Kamyla Vega David passed out 45 helpers, upping her season total to 1,060. On the service line, she added three winners, helping Upstate to eight team service aces.
 
Up Next for the Spartans
Hitting the court for the final time in the regular season, USC Upstate returns to the G.B. Hodge Center, hosting UNC Asheville in the Ingles I-26 Rivalry Series. The Spartans and Bulldogs meet Nov. 14 at 6 p.m. in the regular season finale.
 
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