SOCONSPORTS.COM PHOTO GALLERY FROM THE MATCH
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Branagan Fuller goes up for one of her 14 kills in UNCG's upset of second-seeded Furman on Friday night in the Southern Conference Tournament quarterfinals. The Spartans snapped a 15-match losing skid against the Lady Paladins and advanced to Saturday's semifinal round. (Photo SoConSports.com)
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BOONE, NC One day after the program's first-ever win in the Southern Conference Volleyball Tournament, seventh-seeded UNC Greensboro shocked second-seeded Furman in the quarterfinal round, scoring the final seven points to rally for a three-game sweep of the Lady Paladins.
UNCG (22-12) won the games by scores of 30-21, 30-22 and 30-28, to knock off the Lady Paladins (19-11). Before Thursday's win over The Citadel, UNCG had won just one of 13 games in its previous four SoCon Tournament appearances dating back to the school's entry into the league in 1997.
The win was UNCG's first over Furman since
October 11, 1998. The Spartans had lost 15 in a row to Furman during that span.
UNCG will face third-seeded Appalachian State in Saturday's second semifinal match at approximately 3:30 pm. The first semifinal will feature top-seeded College of Charleston against No. 5 Chattanooga.
The Spartans completed the three-game sweep by scoring the final seven points of the match, rallying from a 28-23 deficit. Senior Theresa Hart, who earlier this week became UNCG's first All-SoCon honoree, led three Spartans in double-figure kills with 15. Freshman Branagan Fuller had 14 kills and sophomore Kaitlyn Nortz chcilled in with 10 kills in the match that took just an hour, 37 minutes to complete.
UNCG, which had lost at Furman during the regular season in five games, hit .262 for the match, while Furman was limited to a .140 hitting percentage.
AGATE
UNC Greensboro def. Furman 30-21,30-22,30-28
UNC Greensboro (22-12) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Theresa Hart 15-0-0; Branagan Fuller 14-0-2; Kaitlyn Nortz 10-1-6; Lauren Keiser 7-2-1; Emily Lindborg 5-0-0; Lisa Fawell 2-0-1; Kayleigh Knerr 0-1-0; Totals 53-4-6.0. (Assists) - Lisa Fawell 45. (Dig leaders) - Catherine Hanners 17; Lauren Keiser 13
Furman (19-11) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Nicole Palazzo 10-0-6; Whitney Purser 10-0-2; Chibuzo Aguocha 7-0-4; Ally Hock 7-0-3; Kerry Wooten 6-0-5; Courtney Stewardson 2-0-3; Kim Tonkin 0-2-0; Totals 42-2-13.0. (Assists) - Courtney Stewardson 34. (Dig leaders) - Kim Tonkin 11; Whitney Purser 9; Courtney Stewardson 9
- UNCG -
