COLUMBIA, S.C. - UNC Greensboro narrowly dropped the first game, but the Spartans only hit .123 as a team as they were swept by South Carolina in the final match of the Gamecock Invitational on Saturday afternoon at the Volleyball Competition Center. Catherine Hanners and Kayleigh Knerr were named to the All-Tournament Team.

UNCG fell to 4-3 this season with the loss while South Carolina stayed undefeated to move to 6-0 on the year.

"Overall, I was proud of how we stepped up our competitiveness, energy and communication," said head coach Patrick Nicholas. "Everybody made improvements in their play. Our digging made strides this weekend as we went from single digit digs per game to above 15. South Carolina played a very consistent high level game with very few errors. We did do some very good things in our match and will learn from it. Along with Catherine and Kayleigh, I was very happy with Emily's play this weekend. She really stepped up and played big and was very successful offensively as well as her blocking improved."

Senior Emily Lindborg was the best attacker for the Spartans as she had 10 kills and hit an impressive .529 for the match. Fellow senior Hanners also had 10 kills and  Knerr led the team with 12 digs.

The best game of the afternoon was the first game, with South Carolina narrowly winning, 26-24. The two teams traded points early before South Carolina was able to grab a 14-9 lead, but UNCG clawed back to within 19-18. South Carolina held game-point at 24-21, but back-to-back kills by Lindborg and an attack error by the Gamecocks made the game tied at 24. It was all for naught though as South Carolina was able to take the next two points to win the game.

The second game was much of the same as South Carolina held on to a narrow 17-16 lead midway through the game. The Gamecocks were able to win eight of the next 11 points to take the game, 25-19.

The Gamecocks carried their momentum into the third game as they jumped out to an early 7-1 lead. The Spartans wouldn't go down without a fight as they pulled within 17-13, but they weren't able to overcome the deficit as South Carolina won the game, 25-17.

The Spartans return to the court on Wednesday as they host head coach Patrick Nicholas' former team Marshall at 7 p.m. in Fleming Gymnasium.

AGATE

South Carolina def. UNC Greensboro: 26-24, 25-19, 25-17

UNC Greensboro (4-3) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Catherine Hanners 10-2-2; Emily Lindborg 10-0-0; Billi Baker 5-0-2; Alissa Beaudway 4-1-3; Caley Redden 4-0-0; Kayleigh Knerr 0-1-0; Arielle Lysacek 0-1-0; Totals 33-5-4.0. (Assists) - Arielle Lysacek 28. (Dig leaders) - Kayleigh Knerr 12; Billi Baker 9; Catherine Hanners 9; Arielle Lysacek 9

South Carolina (6-0) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Ivana Kujundzic 18-0-4; Meredith Moorhead 8-1-1; Hannah Lawing 8-0-0; Tory Anderson 5-0-5; B. Denson-Dorman 4-1-0; Teresa Stenlund 3-0-1; Totals 46-2-6.0. (Assists) - B. Denson-Dorman 31. (Dig leaders) - Sarah Cline 16; Hannah Lawing 14; Meredith Moorhead 10; B. Denson-Dorman 8

Site: Columbia, S.C. (VB Comp. Facility)

Date: Sep 5, 2009    Attend: 564   Time: 1:24   

Referees: Keith Weller, Bill Zehler

South Carolina wins 2009 Gamecock Invitational

All-Tournament Team

MVP - Ivana Kujundzic, SC

Most Outstanding Libero - Sarah Cline, SC

Bridget Denson-Dorman, SC

Teresa Stenlund, SC
Catherine Hanners, UNC Greensboro

Kayleigh Knerr, UNC Greensboro

Megan Bickford, Coastal Carolina

Jill Nynor, Coastal Carolina

- UNCG -