WILMINGTON, NC With three players in double-digit kills, UNC Greensboro defeated UT-Martin, 3-1, to claim its first win in a season-opener since 1999, in the opening round of the UNC Wilmington Invitational on Friday afternoon. The Spartans went onto win their second match of the day, 3-0, against South Carolina State.

Senior Theresa Hart led the Spartans with a match-high 15 kills against UT-Martin. She also added five service aces and two blocks. Sophomore Kaitlyn Nortz added 13 kills and had a team-high five blocks, while senior Hilary Overby added 12 kills.

UNCG fell behind right away in the first game as the Skyhawks took a 7-0 lead right from the start. The Spartans played catch-up all game from there. Two kills by Hart tied the game, 30-30. However, the Skyhawks would take the final two points to win.

In the second game, the Spartans grabbed an early lead and held on to win 30-19. The Skyhawks kept it close in the third game but UNCG, which kept the tight lead throughout the game, came on top 30-23. The fourth game remained close with nine ties but the Spartans went on an 11-3 run to take the final game, 30-22.

Against South Carolina State, freshman Emily Lindborg led all players with nine kills. Hart and freshman Branagan Fuller added seven kills each. Lisa Fawell handed out 22 assists and Catherine Hanners had eight digs.

UNCG will face off with Winston-Salem State at 3 pm on Saturday and then wrap up the weekend against the host Seahawks at 7 pm.

AGATE

UNC Greensboro def. Tennessee Martin 30-32, 30-19, 30-23, 30-22

Tennessee Martin (0-1) (Kills-aces-blocks) - SPRAGUE, Kathryn 13-0-1; JETT, Sarah 12-1-5; NOLAND, Taylor 8-0-1; SASSE, Dimphy 5-2-1; KNOSE, Shelby 4-1-2; HOLLINS, Jamie 2-0-0; MONTAGUE, Lauren 1-0-0; GAUTREAU, Anna 0-2-0; Totals 45-6-6.0. (Assists) - KNOSE, Shelby 32. (Dig leaders) - GAUTREAU, Anna 15; KONITZER, Tammy 11

UNC Greensboro (1-0) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Theresa Hart 15-5-2; Kaitlyn Nortz 13-3-5; Hilary Overby 12-2-2; Emily Lindborg 9-0-2; Lauren Keiser 7-2-2; Lisa Fawell 0-6-0; Catherine Hanners 0-6-0; Totals 56-24-7.0. (Assists) - Lisa Fawell 46. (Dig leaders) - Catherine Hanners 15; Theresa Hart 11

UNC Greensboro def. South Carolina State 30-17,30-12,30-14

UNC Greensboro (2-0) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Emily Lindborg 9-0-5; Theresa Hart 7-5-1; Branagan Fuller 7-4-3; Kaitlyn Nortz 2-0-1; Lisa Fawell 2-1-1; Hilary Overby 2-1-0; Liz Benzschawel 2-1-1; Catherine Hanners 1-4-1; Totals 32-16-7.0. (Assists) - Lisa Fawell 22. (Dig leaders) - Catherine Hanners 8; Branagan Fuller 3

South Carolina State (0-2) (Kills-aces-blocks) - WALKER,Monique 4-1-0; JETER,Vicky 4-0-0; GARRETT,Linnie 3-0-2; PAMA,Charlene 2-0-0; GOOTINAG,Lilliana 2-0-0; STEPHENSON,Kathlyn 2-1-0; BRADSHAW,Danielle 1-0-0; JOHNSON,Endia 1-0-2; HILL,Lyndsay 1-0-0; KLOSS,Gisela 1-0-0; WATERS-BROWN,Laura 1-0-0; Totals 22-2-2.0. (Assists) - . (Dig leaders) - WALKER,Monique 5; GOOTINAG,Lilliana 4

- UNCG -