CHARLOTTE, NC The UNC Greensboro volleyball team snapped its five-game skid with a 3-2 win over Morgan State in opening round action at the Charlotte 49ers Invitational on Friday afternoon. The Spartans won the match by scores of 28-30, 28-30, 30-28, 30-28,6-14.
UNCG (5-5) was led by sophomore outside hitter Branagan Fuller, who tallied a team-high 22 kills and set a new career-high with a team-leading 34 digs. Setter Lisa Fawell also had a good game and tallied a match-high 71 assists. Kaitlyn Nortz and Katherine Hart led UNCG with five blocks each.
Morgan State (0-5) was led by Esther Johnson and Ivanti Bush who each tallied 23 kills while also tallying 23 digs apiece. The Bears also tallied nine team blocks in the loss.
The Spartans came out of the gate slowly and found themselves in a battle with the Bears from the outset of game one. UNCG found themselves down 3-0 early before getting back in the game behind several Morgan State errors and timely kills from Emily Lindborg and Fuller. In a game that featured 10 ties, UNCG kept things close but a late 3-2 run from Morgan State gave the Bears game one, 30-28.
In game two UNCG took the 3-0 lead early but the Bears would come back and take a 15-11 lead midway through the game. The Spartans wouldn't get any closer as Morgan State would take a 2-0 match lead with a 30-28 win in game two.
After the intermission UNCG went would get back on track. The Spartans ran out to a 14-8 lead and pushed their lead to 24-16 before the Bears went on a 5-0 run to cut the lead to 24-20 but that was as close as it would get as the Spartans claimed the 30-28 win and cut the lead to 2-1.
The fourth game featured another tight match with neither team gaining an advantage of more the four points through the first 20 points played. The Bears went on the attack and took a 24-19 lead before kills from Hart and Lindborg put UNCG in front 26-25. The Spartans wouldn't relinquish the lead and held on for the 30-28 lead.
In the decisive fifth game, which featured 10 lead changes, it was tight from the first serve. UNCG took a 13-12 lead but the Bears rebounded with a kill from Johnson before Hart regained the lead with a kill. The game ended with an attack error from Morgan State and a kill from Nortz to give the Spartans the match.
The Spartans return to action tomorrow when they face Coastal Carolina at 10 am and conclude tournament action against host Charlotte at 7 pm. UNCG returns home to Fleming Gymnasium September 11 when they take on Winston-Salem State. First serve is at 7 pm.
AGATE:
UNCG def. Morgan State Univ. 28-30,28-30,30-28,30-28,16-14
Morgan State Univ. (0-5) (Kills-aces-blocks) - JOHNSON,Esther 23-1-3;BUSH,Ivanti 23-2-0; MORAN,Jeniqua 16-3-4; ELLEGOOD,Vashaye 8-0-4;TUTMAN,Hilary 2-0-1; FULLOVE,Jentri 2-0-2; FELLOWS,Teneika 1-1-2;Totals 75-7-9.0. (Assists) - FULLOVE,Jentri 62. (Dig leaders) - JOHNSON,Esther 23; BUSH,Ivanti 23; PRESTON,Ashley 18; FELLOWS,Teneika 15; FULLOVE,Jentri 10
UNCG (5-5) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Branagan Fuller 22-1-0; Kaitlyn Nortz 16-0-5; Emily Lindborg 12-0-3; Katherine Hart 10-0-5; Alissa Beaudway 9-0-0; Caley Redden 5-0-0; Billi Baker 3-0-0; Lauren Keiser 1-0-0; Kayleigh Knerr 0-2-0; Lisa Fawell 0-0-3; Catherine Hanners 0-1-0; Totals 78-4-9.0. (Assists) - Lisa Fawell 71. (Dig leaders) Branagan Fuller 34; Catherine Hanners 24; Lauren Keiser 14; Lisa Fawell 13;Kayleigh Knerr 9
