UNC Greensboro 3, North Carolina Central 0
GREENSBORO, N.C. - UNC Greensboro used a balanced attack as the Spartans defeated North Carolina Central, 3-0, on Tuesday night in Fleming Gymnasium.
The Spartans improved to 14-11 on the season, while the Eagles fell to 8-21 this year.
"Tonight was a good team effort and it felt good to get back into the winning column," head coach Patrick Nicholas said after the match. "The team really stuck together tonight and it was good to see them play as a team. We need to finish this stretch where we are playing seven matches in 14 days really strong to put ourselves in a good position to play in the postseason."
Luciana Shafer led the Spartans with seven kills, while five other Spartans had at least four kills. Ari Lysacek had a match-high 34 assists and Catherine Hanners had a match-high of her own with 11 digs.
The Spartans came out a little sluggish in the first set as they fell behind 6-4 early. UNCG tied the match at 7 before running off the next four points to take an 11-7 lead on a service ace by Caley Redden. The Eagles came back to pull within 11-9, but UNCG scored the next eight points to take a commanding 19-9 lead. Back-to-back errors by the Eagles gave the Spartans their final two points as they won the set, 25-13.
The two teams traded the first few points in the second set before the Spartans took an 8-3 run after a 5-0 run, capped off by a kill from Lysacek. The Spartans led 12-7 midway through the set before ending the set on a 13-3 run to take the set, 25-10, and a 2-0 lead in the match.
UNCG appeared to carry its momentum into the third set coming out of the break as they jumped out to a 4-0 lead. The Spartans led 9-3 before the Eagles ran off the next seven points to take a 10-9 lead. The Spartans responded with an incredible 16-4 run to end the set, 25-14, and win the match.
The Spartans return to the court on Saturday as they host Chattanooga at 5 p.m. in Fleming Gymnasium.
The Citadel 3, Savannah State 0
CHARLESTON, S.C. - Kaona Mercer had a match-high nine kills, leading The Citadel Volleyball team to their second consecutive victory, in a sweep over Savannah State. The 25-10, 25-13, 25-11 victory over the Tigers marks the second this season. Mercer, who saw significant time in the rotation against UNCG, finished with a .438 hitting percentage in 16 total attacks.
Mercer finished one shy of her career-high in kills, established against Alabama State, guided The Citadel to 35 kills. Blaine McAllister tallied six kills, along with five digs, to reach a .500 hitting percentage in 10 attacks. Fellow Bulldogs Cassie Uribe and Jessica Maas finished with five kills apiece. The tandem of Uribe and Alyssa Holum led the defensive attack with six digs. Freshman setter Alexa Dahlstrom dished out a game-high 13 assists. The Citadel improves to 6-20 overall.
Savannah State (10-18) was unable to handle the Bulldogs front row, converting 14 kills in 81 attacks, to complete the match with a -.198 hitting percentage. Shatice White's five kills anchored the Bulldogs. Danielle Richardson extended her team lead in digs, finishing with a match-high nine digs. Shawannda McClain reached double figures in assists with 10.
The Citadel returns to Southern Conference action on Saturday, Oct. 31, when they face-off against Western Carolina in Cullowhee at 2 p.m.
Game statistics and a game recap will be available immediately following the match. For more information on Bulldog Volleyball or The Citadel Athletics, visit the website.