Women's Volleyball 10/23/2010 8:00:00 PM UNCGSpartans.com

Newman helps lead UNCG past The Citadel, 3-1

Box Score

GREENSBORO, N.C. – UNCG received a career-high 17 kills by junior Ariel Newman to lead the Spartans past The Citadel, 3-1 (30-28, 25-10, 22-25, 25-23), on Saturday night in Fleming Gymnasium. The match marked the final match of Dig Pink weekend for the Spartans, where they raised over $500 that will go towards the fight against breast cancer.

Two-time Olympic gold medalist Misty May-Treanor was in attendance for the match, as well, and addressed the crowd prior to the start of the match.

The Spartans improved their overall record to 18-7 this year and 6-4 in the Southern Conference. The Citadel dropped to 5-20 on the season and 0-10 in the league.

"It was a battle," said coach Patrick Nicholas. "This conference is good top to bottom. There are no easy matches. We did some things really good tonight to come out with the win."

In addition to her 17 kills, Newman posted 13 digs for a double-double. Ari Lysacek posted her 12^th double-double this season as she had a match-high 30 assists and 11 digs. Kellie Orewiler also had a match-high 22 digs in the victorious effort.

Kaona Mercer led the Bulldogs with 14 kills, while Jessica Maas added 11 herself and 14 digs for a double-double. Tatum Jestila nearly had a double-double as she had nine kills and a team-high 18 digs.

The first set was extremely close throughout as the teams were tied 19 times. The Spartans had set point at 24-22 on a kill by Kayren Finney, but the Bulldogs came back to win the next three points to have set point at 25-24. UNCG fought that off before having three more set points before Lysacek delivered a kill to give the Spartans the set, 30-28.

Things came much easier for the Spartans in the second set as they used an early 9-0 run to take a 14-3 lead. UNCG continued to cruise the remainder of the set to win it, 25-10.

In the third set, UNCG found itself down 13-10 before winning the next four points to go ahead, 14-13. The Bulldogs immediately answered that run with a 6-0 run of their own to take a 19-14 lead. The Spartans were able to whittle down the Bulldog lead to 23-22, but The Citadel took the final two points to win the set, 25-22.

The fourth and final set was similar to the first set as there was 15 ties and six lead changes. The teams were tied at 14 midway through the set before the Spartans rattled off four-straight points to take an 18-14 lead. After a Bulldog timeout, The Citadel won the next five points to go in front, 19-18. The teams were tied at 23, but UNCG got back-to-back kills from Newman to win the set, 25-23.

The Spartans return to competition on Saturday as they travel to Birmingham, Ala. to face Samford at 2 p.m.

AGATE

UNCG def. The Citadel 30-28, 25-10, 22-25, 25-23

The Citadel (5-20, 0-10 SoCon) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Kaona Mercer 14-0-4; Jessica Maas 11-0-5; Tatum Jestila 9-1-0; Jessica Maxwell 5-0-4; Cassie Uribe 5-0-1; Alexa Dahlstrom 4-0-4; Rachael Farrell 4-0-0; Erin Bucherl 1-0-0; Totals 53-1-10.0. (Assists) - Erin Bucherl 26; Alexa Dahlstrom 13. (Dig leaders) - Tatum Jestila 18; Jessica Maas 14; Kathryn Johnston 12; Erin Bucherl 11

UNCG (18-7, 6-4 SoCon) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Ariel Newman 17-0-0; Olivia Humphries 10-2-3; Billi Baker 8-0-4; Alissa Beaudway 7-0-2; Caley Redden 6-0-0; Ari Lysacek 4-2-2; Kayren Finney 4-0-8; Karrian Chambers 1-1-0; Samantha Deutchman 0-0-1; Kimiko Naito 0-2-0; Totals 57-7-12.0. (Assists) - Ari Lysacek 30; Kimiko Naito 15. (Dig leaders) - Kellie Orewiler 22; Ariel Newman 13; Caley Redden 12; Ari Lysacek 11