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Newman helps propel Blue team to 3-0 win in Blue-Gold scrimmage
For video of coach Patrick Nicholas' comments on the Blue-Gold scrimmage, click here.
GREENSBORO, N.C. – Senior captain Ariel Newman had a match-high 12 kills as she helped the Blue team to a 3-0 (25-14, 25-21, 25-15) win over the Gold team in the annual Blue-Gold scrimmage on Saturday in Fleming Gymnasium.
The Blue team consisted of Karrian Chambers, Morgan Freeman, Vicky Harley, Emily McMurtrey, Brittany Morris, Newman and Kellie Orewiler.
Student assistant coach Billi Baker, Sarah Eldridge, Chelsea Evans, Holland Hoefnagel, Ari Lysacek, Morris, Orewiler and Kelsey Sidney made up the Gold team. Morris and Orewiler were the only two players to play for each team.
"It was the first scrimmage of the year, obviously," said coach Patrick Nicholas. "It was nice to do some things in a formal situation so they get used to the referees and the whistle. I thought some people did some great things."
Newman had just one error to go along with her 12 kills as she had a .407 hitting percentage, while also added six digs. Freeman added nine kills in the winning effort and freshman Harley added eight. McMurtrey also had 28 assists and eight digs.
Sidney and Hoefnagel each had eight kills for the Gold team and Lysacek and Eldridge had 10 and eight assists, respectively.
The first set was tight in the beginning as the Blue team held a narrow 10-8 lead before going on an 11-3 run to take a commanding 21-11 lead. The Blue squad would close out the set on a Newman service ace to take the first set, 25-14.
The closest set of the day was the second set as the Blue team won 25-21. The Blue team had a 23-13 lead late in the set before the Gold team began to mount a comeback. The Gold team ran off seven-straight points to pull within three points, but the Blue team got a kill from Freeman to win the set.
In the third set, the Gold team held a 9-8 lead in the early part of the set, but the Blue team went on an 11-2 run to jump out to a 19-11 lead. The Gold team wasn't able to make it any close than that the rest of the way as the Blue team took the final set, 25-15.
The Spartans will kick off its 2011 campaign next weekend as they host Coastal Carolina, East Tennessee State, Evansville and North Carolina A&T for the UNCG Invitational. UNCG will face Coastal Carolina at 1 p.m. on Friday in its first match of the season.
AGATE
Blue def. Gold: 25-14, 25-21, 25-15
Blue (Kills-aces-blocks) - Ariel Newman 12-2-1; Morgan Freeman 9-0-4; Vicky Harley 8-1-4; Karrian Chambers 5-3-0; Emily McMurtrey 3-0-0; Brittany Morris 1-1-0; Kellie Orewiler 0-1-0; Totals 38-8-6.0. (Assists) - Emily McMurtrey 28. (Dig leaders) - Kellie Orewiler 9; Emily McMurtrey 8
Gold (Kills-aces-blocks) - Kelsey Sidney 8-0-1; Holland Hoefnagel 8-0-1; Chelsea Evans 4-1-0; Ari Lysacek 3-0-1; Billi Baker 1-1-1; Brittany Morris 1-0-0; Totals 25-2-3.0. (Assists) - Ari Lysacek 10. (Dig leaders) - Brittany Morris 9; Sarah Eldridge 5
Site: Greensboro, N.C. (Fleming Gymnasium)
Date: Aug 20, 2011 Attend: 112 Time: 1:12
- UNCG -
