MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Closing the opening day of action of the new season, USC Upstate volleyball sought to avenge itself from its five-set setback earlier in the afternoon, seeking a split on day one of the Rumble at the Roane. Facing another set of Tigers clad in blue and white, the Spartans picked up their first win of the season in convincing fashion, sweeping Tennessee State.
 
Upstate's nightcap saw all 15 members of the squad appear—including the USC Upstate debuts of freshman setter Olivia Callipo and freshman middle blocker Lauren DeOrio—in a match that saw a balanced spread among each statistical category inside the box score.
 
Game Information
Score: USC Upstate 3; Tennessee State 0 (25-11; 25-18; 25-23)
Records: USC Upstate (1-1; 0-0 Big South); Tennessee State (0-2; 0-0 OVC)
Location: Elma Roane Fieldhouse | Memphis, Tenn.
 
How It Happened
Following a similar script to the team's season opener, Upstate jumped out to an early two sets to none advantage, taking sets one and two for the second time in as many matches to begin the season. In their second match of the afternoon, however, the Spartans showed their grit, gutting out a third-set victory (25-23) that saw 12 ties and seven lead changes in the stanza.
 
Of the 15 Spartans to appear in the match, 10 finished the evening with a kill led by senior middle blocker Ady O'Grady with 10 terminations behind a .692 hitting efficiency, her second straight match to open the season with double-figure kills. Sophomore setter Kamyla Vega David passed out 30 assists in the match while freshman setter Olivia Callipo dished out four helpers in her first career action.
 
On the defensive side of the ball, 10 Spartans registered a dig with freshman libero Sophia Overholt leading the group with nine balls. Just behind Overholt, sophomore defensive specialist Hannah Campbell plucked up seven digs.
On the service line, Upstate landed another 10 service aces in its second match of the afternoon, recording double-digit winners in consecutive matches for the first time since Nov. 5 and Nov. 12, 2021. Seven servers marked an ace as redshirt sophomore outside hitter Bri Brathol, Campbell, and Overholt each landed two winners apiece.
 
Notable

• Landing 10 service aces against Tennessee State, Upstate has registered 10 or more service aces in consecutive matches for the first time since doing so against Hampton and North Carolina A&T on Nov. 6, 2021, and Nov. 12, 2021, respectively.
• Olvia Callipo and Lauren DeOrio both made their USC Upstate debuts against the Tigers Friday evening. Through two matches, all nine newcomers for the Spartans have made their Upstate debuts.

 
Up Next for the Spartans
Closing out the Rumble at the Roane, USC Upstate returns to action Saturday morning at 10:30 a.m. ET. The Spartans face Northwestern State in the final match of the event for both teams.
 
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