GREENSBORO, NC– Appalachian State's Brittany Zahn had a match-high 36 kills and 11 digs to lead Appalachian State to a 3-2 victory over UNC Greensboro in Fleming Gym on Saturday afternoon. The Mountaineers topped UNCG by scores of 28-30, 30-25, 30-22, 34-35, 15-8 for their fourth conference victory.

Katherine Hart posted 17 kills and eight digs to lead UNCG (11-10, 4-3 SoCon) while Kaitlyn Nortz and Branagan Fuller recorded 14 and 13 kills, respectively. Catherine Hanners also tallied a team-high 28 digs. Lisa Fawell dished out 51 assists while Nortz had a match-high seven blocks in the loss.

Zahn led Appalachian State (7-12, 4-3 SoCon) with 36 kills. The Mountaineers had four players with double-digit digs led by Heather Kale who recorded 17 digs. Lorelle Rau also dished out a match-high 64 assists while Carla Durham posted a team-high six blocks.

The Spartans took an early 3-1 lead in game one but Appalachian State responded and was able to go on a run of their own and took a 5-4 lead in the first minutes of action. The game proved to be tight from that point on but the Spartans managed to take a 20-16 lead midway through the game. The Mountaineers would get as close as 22-21 but UNCG scored the games final two points to take the game 30-28 and the 1-0 match lead.

Games two and three proved to be much tougher for the Spartans. Appalachian State jumped out to a 16-10 lead early in game two and never looked back. UNCG was able to get as close as five-points but the Mountaineer offense rolled to the 30-25 victory and evened the match at a game each. The third game featured more of Appalachian State's potent offense as they recorded a .233 hitting percentage to UNCG's -.065 hitting percentage and they pulled ahead in the match with a 30-23 victory.

The fourth game was intense from the outset and featured 15 ties and nine lead changes. The Spartans were able to pull ahead 20-16 before the Mountaineers began a comeback. Appalachian State rattled of the games next four points to tie the game at 20-20. The score see-sawed between the teams and went into extra points before UNCG capitalized on a Mountaineer service error and put the game away with a ace from Nortz to take the game 36-34 and notch the match at 2-2.

The final frame was all Appalachian State. The Mountaineers ran out to a 10-1 lead and never looked back. UNCG was able to score several points with kills from Nortz and Fuller but couldn't comeback as the Mountaineers took the match with a 15-8 win.

UNCG closes out its five-game homestand Sunday when they take on Davidson. First serve is set for 12 noon in Fleming Gym.

AGATE

Appalachian State def. UNCG 28-30,30-25,30-22,34-36,15-8

Appalachian State ((7-12, 4-3 SoCon)) (Kills-aces-blocks) – Brittany Zahn 36-0-4; Carla Durham 21-0-6; Dianna Thomas 13-1-0; Lauren Swecker 7-0-1; Lorelle Rau 3-0-4; Charissa Clearman 0-2-0; Heather Kale 0-2-0; Caroline Sedon 0-0-2; Totals 80-5-10.0. (Assists) - Lorelle Rau 64. (Dig leaders) - Heather Kale 17; Dianna Thomas 16; Cassie Engelgau 14; Brittany Zahn 11; Lorelle Rau 8

UNCG ((11-10, 4-3 SoCon)) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Katherine Hart 17-0-5; Branagan Fuller 14-0-1; Kaitlyn Nortz 13-3-7; Emily Lindborg 8-0-2; Kayren Finney 6-0-3; Billi Baker 3-0-2; Alissa Beaudway 2-0-1; Lauren Keiser 0-0-2; Kayleigh Knerr 0-2-0; Totals 63-5-13.0. (Assists) – Lisa Fawell 51. (Dig leaders) - Catherine Hanners 28; Branagan Fuller 14; Lisa Fawell 9; Katherine Hart 8

- UNCG -