GREENSBORO, N.C. – UNCG won the second set to tie the match at one heading into intermission, but College of Charleston won the next two sets as the Spartans fell, 3-1 (25-19, 17-25, 25-21, 25-18), on Friday evening in Fleming Gymnasium. The match marked the first of two matches for UNCG during Dig Pink weekend.
With the loss, the Spartans fall to 17-7 on the year and 5-4 in the Southern Conference, while College of Charleston improved to 19-5 this season and 8-1 in the league. It was the first loss for UNCG at home this season.
"We knew we matched up well," said coach Patrick Nicholas. "Coming into this match, we knew that both teams were really physical. We're pretty well balanced, we match up great with each other physically at the net, hitting and blocking. We won some battles and we lost some. We've got to rebound and learn from it."
Ariel Newman had a team-high 14 kills for the Spartans and Olivia Humphries was also in double figures with 10 kills. Ari Lysacek had her 11th double-double of the year as she posted 33 assists and 13 digs. Kayren Finney tied her career-high with 10 blocks and Caley Redden recorded a match-high 22 digs.
The Cougars were led by Ginny Phillips who had 15 kills, while Sarah Havel had 13 in the winning effort. Whitney Russell added 10 kills and Cole Dawley had a match-high 42 assists.
The Spartans came out a little flat to open the match as they committed three-straight attack errors to give the Cougars a 3-0 lead. UNCG battled back to tie the set at 13 on a kill by Newman, but College of Charleston ran off four points in a row later in the set to take a 21-16 lead. UNCG wasn't able to recover as the Cougars claimed the first set, 25-19.
UNCG came fighting back in the second set as it took a 9-3 lead to open the set. The Spartans made it a nine point difference at 19-10 on a solo block by Finney. UNCG had set point at 24-13, but the Cougars won the next four points before an Olivia Humphries kill gave the Spartans the set, 25-17.
The third set started very similar to the first set for UNCG as it fell behind 6-1. The Spartans fought back the entire set and finally made it a one-point set at 20-19 on a kill by Humphries. The Cougars bounced back though to win five of the final seven points to win the set, 25-21.
UNCG fell behind early once again in the fourth set as College of Charleston took the early 9-5 lead. After a Spartan timeout, UNCG went on a 5-2 run to make it 11-10 to force a Cougar timeout. The Spartans made it a one point game again at 13-12, but the Cougars pulled away the rest of the way to take the set, 25-18.
The Spartans will wrap up Dig Pink weekend on Saturday as they host The Citadel for a 7 p.m. match in Fleming Gymnasium. Two-time Olympic gold medalist Misty May-Treanor will be in attendance for the match, as well.
AGATE
Coll. of Charleston def. UNCG 25-19, 17-25, 25-21, 25-18
Coll. of Charleston (19-5, 8-1 SoCon) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Ginny Phillips 15-0-3; Sarah Havel 13-4-6; Whitney Russell 10-0-2; Cole Dawley 7-0-2; Madelyn McGinnis 6-0-0; Elyse Chubb 4-0-2; Kelly Kolich 1-0-0; Totals 56-4-9.0. (Assists) - Cole Dawley 42. (Dig leaders) - Paige Johnson 13; Emily Shelton 12; Cole Dawley 10
UNCG (17-7, 5-4 SoCon) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Ariel Newman 14-1-1; Olivia Humphries 10-0-2; Billi Baker 9-0-3; Caley Redden 6-0-2; Alissa Beaudway 4-0-1; Kayren Finney 3-0-10; Ari Lysacek 2-1-3; Kellie Orewiler 0-1-0; Totals 48-3-12.0. (Assists) - Ari Lysacek 33; Kimiko Naito 10. (Dig leaders) - Caley Redden 22; Ari Lysacek 13; Kellie Orewiler 12; Billi Baker 8
Site: Greensboro, N.C. (Fleming Gymnasium)
Date: Oct 22, 2010 Attend: 543 Time: 1:53
Referees: Dennis Branch, Brian Jones
- UNCG -
