SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Closing out the non-conference portion of its 2025 slate, USC Upstate volleyball rides a wave of momentum into Big South play following a four-set victory over The Citadel Saturday evening. The Spartans bounced back from dropping a tightly-contested opening set, taking the following three to secure the club's seventh win of the season.
 
The Spartans' momentum originated with the standout performances from their middle blocking trio, senior Ady O'Grady and freshman Kensley Haneline, who combined for 41 kills on the evening, both posting career-high kill totals. The duo fashioned a .560 combined hitting efficiency while producing 37 of their combined 41 kills across sets two through four—all Upstate victories.
 
Game Information
Score: USC Upstate 3; The Citadel 1 (23-25; 25-19; 25-20; 25-23)
Records: USC Upstate (7-6; 0-0 Big South); The Citadel (0-10; 0-0 SoCon)
Location: G.B. Hodge Center | Spartanburg, S.C.
 
How It Happened
Outmaneuvering the Bulldog defense, Upstate's offensive barrage centered largely on the play of its middle blockers as senior middle Ady O'Grady and freshman middle Kensley Haneline each posted career-high marks on the stat sheet. O'Grady concluded the evening with 23 kills, her second career 20-plus kill match, tied for the third-most confirmed by a Spartan in a single match and the most in a single match by a middle blocker in the program's Division I era (2007-pres.).
 
Working in tandem with O'Grady, Haneline finished the evening with 18 terminations, a career-best and her second career match with 15 or more kills. Recording 13 kills, freshman outside hitter Summer Kohler joined the duo to build a trio of double-figure kill attackers for the Spartans.
 
Surveying The Citadel's defensive fortifications, sophomore setter Kamyla Vega David distributed 51 assists, hitting the 50-assist threshold for the third time this season in a four-set match. For reference, the Big South conference features four 50-plus assist matches this season across all competition; the lone match not secured by Vega David came in a five-set affair.
 
Defending its side of the court, Upstate's backline featured four players digging up 10 or more balls. The Spartans' libero, freshman Sophia Overholt, led the way with 21 digs, her second career 20-plus dig match, both coming in consecutive home matches. Sophomore defensive specialist Hannah Campbell, Vega David, and Kohler joined her in double-figures, collecting 14, 13, and 11 digs, respectively.
 
At the net, Upstate turned away seven Bulldog attacks, registering 7.0 or more team total blocks for the seventh time this year. O'Grady paced the regiment with five total blocks, seeing Vega David post four, closing out just behind her on the stat sheet. In service, Upstate landed eight service aces, getting three apiece from Overholt and Vega David.
 
Up Next for the Spartans
Following the completion of the program's non-conference schedule Saturday, USC Upstate opens Big South Conference play on Sep. 26 with a trip to Asheville, N.C. The Spartans face UNC Asheville in the first of two meetings in the Ingles I-26 Rivalry Series, beginning with a 6 p.m. ET first serve.
 
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