GREENSBORO, NC – College of Charleston came back from a 1-2 match deficit to defeat UNC Greensboro, 3-2 in Southern Conference volleyball action in Fleming Gym on Saturday afternoon.

Kaitlyn Nortz led UNCG (14-12, 7-5 SoCon) and recorded 23 kills on the afternoon, which ties her career high. Branagan Fuller also tallied 21 kills while Katherine Hart added 11 kills in the loss. Lisa Fawell dished out a match-high 64 kills while teammate Catherine Hanners led the way on the defensive end with a match-high 23 digs.

College of Charleston (17-6, 11-1 SoCon) had four players with double-digits kills and was led by Tiffany Blum who tallied a team-high 14 kills. The Cougars also had five players with double-digit digs led by Lindsay Kane who had 16 digs.

In the fifth and decisive game UNCG opened out with 4-1 lead early. Charleston wouldn't be deterred and rattled off two straight points to cut the lead to 4-2. The Spartans were able to match Charleston point for point and found themselves with a 6-4 lead but couldn't maintain it as the Cougars tied the match with a kill from Blum and an attack error on Nortz. The game was close the rest of the way but Charleston closed the game with a service error to take the match, 3-2.

In game one the Spartans pulled out to a 7-4 lead behind early kills from Emily Lindborg and Katherine Hart. UNCG was able to keep their offensive momentum going and pulled ahead 17-10 before the Cougars began to mount a comeback. The Cougars outscored the Spartans 14-7 down the stretch and were able to force three ties before taking the game, 30-28.

UNCG would come right back in the second game and pulled ahead 16-10 and never looked back. Charleston was able to get as close as 13-18 but the Spartans tied the match at one game a piece with a 30-20 win. In the fourth game the Spartans started the game with a 3-0 advantage after Charleston was awarded a team penalty for coming back late from the intermission. UNCG pulled ahead 21-10 and even though Charleston got as close as 24-18, the Spartans closed the game on a 6-2 run to take the game 30-20.

In the fourth game Charleston opened with a 4-1 lead but UNCG got kills from Fuller and Kayren Finney to tie the game at 10-10. UNCG went ahead 14-11 but the Cougars were never far off the lead. The Spartans kept their composure and had a 25-21 lead but four consecutive points tied the game. UNCG closed the game with five attack errors giving the Cougars the game, 30-27.

Statistically speaking, UNCG performed well. The Spartans out-hit the Cougars .213 to .149 and put away 15 more kills than Charleston.

The Spartans are next in action Oct. 27-28 when they head to South Carolina for matches with Furman and Wofford. UNCG takes on Furman on Oct. 27 and then heads to Wofford on Oct. 28.

AGATE

Coll. of Charleston def. UNCG 30-28, 20-30, 20-30, 30-2, 15-12

Coll. of Charleston ((17-6, 11-1 SoCon)) (Kills-aces-blocks) – Tiffany Blum 14-1-5; Emily Sawin 13-0-1; Deanna Patrick 11-0-4; Annie Uthe 10-0-8; Cole Dawley 6-1-0; Lindsey Kane 3-2-3; Whitney Russell 3-0-1;Ginny Phillips 0-0-3; Megan Parkerson 0-3-0; Totals 60-7-13.0. (Assists) - Lindsey Kane 48. (Dig leaders) - Lindsey Kane 16; Megan Parkerson 13; Brooke Truxillo 12; Cole Dawley 11; Emily Sawin 11

UNCG ((14-12, 7-5 SoCon)) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Kaitlyn Nortz 23-3-7; Branagan Fuller 21-0-4; Katherine Hart 11-0-3; Emily Lindborg 10-0-3; Alissa Beaudway 4-0-0; Lisa Fawell 3-1-3; Kayren Finney 3-0-0; Lauren Keiser 0-1-1; Kayleigh Knerr 0-2-0; Catherine Hanners 0-2-0; Totals 75-9-11.5. (Assists) - Lisa Fawell 64. (Dig leaders) – Catherine Hanners 23; Kayleigh Knerr 14; Lauren Keiser 13; Branagan Fuller 10

- UNCG -