CULLOWHEE, NC The UNC Greensboro volleyball team closed its two-game road trip with a 3-0 win over Western Carolina in Southern Conference volleyball action on Sunday afternoon.
Sophomore Branagan Fuller led UNCG (13-11, 6-4 SoCon) with a match-high 27 kills. The Murietta, CA native also tallied 10 digs for a double-double on the afternoon. Catherine Hanners had a team-high 19 digs while setter Lisa Fawell dished out 48 assists.
Meredith Harmon and Jelena Jakovljevic led Western Carolina (7-18, 2-8 SoCon) with 10 kills each while Liz Rondone collected 12 digs in the loss.
The first game was close in the opening moments but UNCG pulled ahead 5-3 behind several Western Carolina errors and kills from Fuller and Kaitlyn Nortz. The Spartans extended their lead to 15-8 with a 10-5 run midway through the game. UNCG wouldn't trail the rest of the way but the Western Carolina was able to get as close as 23-17 behind kills from Jelena Jakovljevic and Katie Hennessey but couldn't stop UNCG as they took game one, 30-26.
The second game was much closer with the teams trading points in the early goings but UNCG was able to take a 12-9 lead behind kills from Fuller, Nortz and Emily Lindborg. With a 5-0 run UNCG took a commanding 17-9 lead and never looked back. Western Carolina was able to score three consecutive points to cut the lead to 29-20 but a kill from Fuller gave the Spartans a 2-0 match lead.
UNCG never trailed in the third game and once they pulled ahead 17-10 they cruised to a 30-19 victory to clinch the sweep. The Spartans tallied 59 kills on the afternoon and hit an impressive .326 for the match. Western Carolina hit .231 for the match and recorded 41 kills in the loss.
The Spartans return to Fleming Gym Oct. 19-20 when they welcome The Citadel and College of Charleston for weekend matches. UNCG will take on The Citadel Friday night at 7 pm and conclude the weekend against College of Charleston on Saturday. First serve is set for 2 pm.
AGATE
UNCG def. Western Carolina 30-26, 30-20, 30-19
UNCG (13-11, 6-4 SoCon) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Branagan Fuller 27-2-0;Katherine Hart 9-0-1; Kaitlyn Nortz 8-0-2; Emily Lindborg 5-0-0;Lauren Keiser 5-1-1; Lisa Fawell 3-0-0; Catherine Hanners 1-3-0;Kayleigh Knerr 0-2-0; Totals 58-8-2.0. (Assists) - Lisa Fawell 48. (Dig leaders) - Catherine Hanners 19; Branagan Fuller 10; Lauren Keiser 9
Western Carolina (7-18, 2-8 SoCon) (Kills-aces-blocks) Meredith Harmon 10-0-1; Jelena Jakovljevic 10-0-3; Ali Rook 8-0-2; Katie Hennessey 5-0-0; Kara Lynzee Brooks 5-0-1; LaTonia Cunningham 3-0-4;Totals 41-0-6.0. (Assists) - Katie Hennessey 30. (Dig leaders) - Liz Rondone 12; Katie Hennessey 9; Jelena Jakovljevic 8; Ali Rook 8
- UNCG -
