Box Score
Greensboro, NC - The UNC Greensboro volleyball team shook off a slow start to defeat The Citadel, 3-0, Friday night in Fleming Gym. The win improves the Spartans to 6-21 on the year and 4-11 in the Southern Conference, more importantly, UNCG moves into a tie with Chattanooga for eighth place in the conference. Also, Dawn Bright (Sr./Aberdeen, NC) surpassed the 300 kill plateau. Her 302 kills this season is the eleventh highest total for a Spartan volleyball player, just seven kills behind current coach Stacy Meadows, who recorded 309 kills in 1994.
The Spartans started slowly in game one against a team they swept easily in their first meeting of the year. The Citadel (6-18, 0-14 SoCon) opened with a 6-2 lead forcing a timeout by UNCG. After the timeout the Spartans regrouped and matched the Bulldogs point-for-point. With the team trailing, 13-17, LaJean Morrow (Jr./Asheville, NC) took over, recording three solo blocks in a span of four points to close the gap to 16-18. She followed her solo block with a kill to pull UNCG to within one, 17-18, but The Citadel answered with a kill from Lindsey Hodge and then pushed the lead back to three, 21-18. However, the Spartans rallied to tie the score again at 25-25. Once again UNCG received big plays from LaJean Morrow, who recorded four consecutive points for the Spartans, all on kills. UNCG completed the comeback by taking game one, 30-28.
"LaJean was huge", said head coach Stacy Meadows. "It has been that way all season, she is an upperclassman and that is what you expect."
Game two was all Spartans, as the team opened with three consecutive kills by Kim Dayton (Jr./Fayetteville, NC), Lori Collins (Fr./Keeling, VA), and Dawn Bright. UNCG then pushed the lead to eight points, 18-10, after another kill by Collins. The Spartans cruised from that point, taking game two, 30-18. The Bulldogs opened up a small lead, 2-0, in game thee, but the Spartans wasted no time in retaking the advantage. UNCG took over the lead at 3-2 following a kill by Lori Collins and were never challenged again in the match. Kim Dayton pushed to Spartan lead to nine, 19-10, and a kill by LaJean Morrow sealed the victory for the Spartans, 30-18.
UNCG was led by LaJean Morrow who recorded 13 kills, nine digs, and four blocks. Dawn Bright added 12 kills, 11 digs, and four blocks. Lori Collins chipped in with 11 kills, while Rebekah Faulise (So./Mooresville, NC) led the defensive effort with 13 digs. Adrian Hicks (Fr./Morganton, NC) registered 36 assists.
Samantha Parisi set a team-high with 10 kills for the Bulldogs. Nicole Mantu added 14 digs, while Katie Livingston recorded 29 assists.
UNCG will return to the court Saturday at 2 pm for the final home game of the season. Senior Dawn Bright will be honored as the Spartans face the College of Charleston.
