GREENSBORO, NC –The UNC Greensboro women's volleyball team earned its seventh conference win with the 3-0 sweep of Western Carolina in Southern Conference volleyball action on Friday night at Fleming Gymnasium. The Spartans won by scores of 30-26, 30-19 and 30-19.
Senior Theresa Hart led UNCG with 12 kills and 18 digs, while junior Lauren Keiser tallied seven kills for the Spartans. Sophomore Kaitlyn Nortz, senior Hilary Overby and freshman Branagan Fuller all finished with six kills for UNCG.
Freshman Catherine Hanners had 18 digs and freshman Lisa Fawell handed out 38 assists for the Spartans.
Lauren Brown led Western Carolina (6-22, 2-10 SoCon) with 10 kills and teammate Heather Koontz added seven for the Catamounts. Liz Rondone led the Catamount defense with 17 digs. Meghan Boyle added 13 and Katie Hennessey finished with 10 digs and dished out 18 assists for Western Carolina.
The Catamounts grabbed an early lead over UNCG (17-8, 7-5 SoCon) in game one and the two teams played a close first set that saw eight ties in the game. After a 23-23 tie, the Spartans took the lead for good with the help from the strong Spartan blocking force of Nortz, Fuller and sophomore Liz Benzschawel. Up 29-26, Benzschawel took a feed from Fawell to put down a kill and close the game 30-26.
In game two, UNCG grabbed an early 10-4 lead that included four kills from Nortz. The Catamounts came within two at the 18-16 mark but the Spartans rattled off 12 of the games 15 final points to take the game 30-19. Fuller finished game two with three kills and a .600 hitting percentage.
The two teams played in a close third game that saw four ties in the first half. It wasn't until after a kill by Hart at the 16-13 mark that the Spartans took control. UNCG scored the games next nine points and never looked back, taking the final game by a score of 30-19.
UNCG takes on Chattanooga Saturday night in a 7 pm match-up in the Fleming Gym. Western Carolina goes over to Elon on Saturday to take on the Phoenix. Game set for 6 pm.
AGATE
UNC Greensboro def. Western Carolina 30-26, 30-19, 30-19
Western Carolina (6-22, 2-10) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Lauren Brown 10-0-2; Heather Koontz 7-0-1; Katie Hennessey 5-0-1; Meredith Harmon 3-0-2; Amanda Kerr 2-0-2; Meghan Boyle 1-0-0; Liz Rondone 0-1-0; Kate Willard 0-1-0; Totals 28-2-4.0. (Assists) - Katie Hennessey 18. (Dig leaders) - Liz Rondone 17; Meghan Boyle 13; Katie Hennessey 10
UNC Greensboro (17-8, 7-5) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Theresa Hart 12-1-4; Lauren Keiser 7-0-0; Branagan Fuller 6-0-1; Hilary Overby 6-0-0; Kaitlyn Nortz 6-0-5; Liz Benzschawel 5-0-2; Emily Lindborg 1-0-0; Lisa Fawell 0-1-2; Kayleigh Knerr 0-1-0; Catherine Hanners 0-2-0; Totals 43-5-8.0. (Assists) - Lisa Fawell 38. (Dig leaders) - Theresa Hart 18; Catherine Hanners 18
- UNCG -
