CHARLESTON, S.C. – UNC Greensboro fell in the fifth set to College of Charleston, 15-13, as the Spartans had their eight-match winning streak snapped by the Cougars, 3-2, on Saturday afternoon in Carolina First Arena.
The Spartans dropped to 13-10 on the season and 6-3 in Southern Conference action. The Cougars improved to 11-10 this year and 7-2 in league play.
"It hurts to lose a match like this, but I was proud that we fought back in the match to be in that position," said head coach Patrick Nicholas. "I feel like we can use this match and build upon it. Again, it was a tough loss, but this team is getting real close and they are learning how to play as a championship team."
Caley Redden led the Spartans offensively on the day with 12 kills, while Emily Lindborg added eight kills. Lindborg also had a match-high seven blocks and Catherine Hanners and Kayleigh Knerr had 19 and 18 kills, respectively.
With the match knotted at 2-2, the two squads went to a fifth and final set. The Spartans took an early 3-1 lead in the set on a Cougar service error, but CofC came back to take a 7-6 lead midway through the set. UNCG then went on a 3-0 run and led 13-12 near the end of the set. A Whitney Russell kill tied the match at 13 and back-to-back kills from reigning SoCon Freshman of the Year Elyse Chubb gave the Cougars the set, 15-13.
The Cougars took control of the match in the first set as they used an 8-0 run midway through the set to take a 19-7 lead. The Spartans were never able to recover as Sarah Havel's kill gave College of Charleston the first set, 25-13.
The Spartans responded in the second set by using a 5-0 run to take an early 7-3 lead on a kill by Redden. The Cougars rallied to tie the set at 10, but the Spartans pulled away again to take a 14-10 lead. The Cougars tied the set once again at 20, but the Spartans won five of the final six points to win the set, 25-21.
UNCG led 10-7 in the third set, but the Cougars went on a 15-3 run to take a commanding 22-13 lead on their way to winning the set, 25-17.
UNCG squandered another early lead in the fourth set as the Cougars tied the set at 8. The Spartans rallied again to take a 17-12 lead midway through the set en route to winning the set, 25-19.
The Spartans return to action on Sunday afternoon as they take on SoCon foe The Citadel at 2 p.m. in McAlister Field House.
AGATE
Coll. of Charleston def. UNC Greensboro: 25-13, 21-25, 25-17, 19-25, 15-13
UNC Greensboro (13-10, 6-3) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Caley Redden 12-0-3; Emily Lindborg 8-0-7; Luciana Shafer 5-0-2; Billi Baker 5-0-4; Catherine Hanners 4-1-1; Ari Lysacek 4-1-5; Kayren Finney 4-0-5; Alissa Beaudway 2-0-1; Kayleigh Knerr 0-3-0; Totals 44-5-15.0. (Assists) - Ari Lysacek 30. (Dig leaders) - Catherine Hanners 19; Kayleigh Knerr 18
Coll. of Charleston (11-10, 7-2) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Elyse Chubb 17-1-6; Sarah Havel 11-1-2; Ginny Phillips 11-0-3; Whitney Russell 8-0-1; Cole Dawley 4-2-2; Katie Robinson 3-2-0; Jennifer Darty 3-0-1; Emily Sawin 3-0-0; Liza Price 0-1-0; Paige Johnson 0-1-0; Totals 60-8-8.0. (Assists) - Cole Dawley 48. (Dig leaders) - Paige Johnson 25; Ginny Phillips 14; Emily Sawin 11; Cole Dawley 9
Site: Charleston, S.C. (Carolina First Arena)
Date: Oct 24, 2009 Attend: 117 Time: 2:13
Referees: James Thompson, Ron Weigand
- UNCG -
