BOONE, N.C. – Coming off a tough five-set loss on Saturday, the UNCG volleyball team bounced back behind double-digit kill efforts from Caley Redden and Ariel Newman as the Spartans swept Appalachian State, 3-0 (25-22, 25-23, 25-22), on Sunday afternoon in the Holmes Center.
The Spartans improved to 15-4 on the season and 3-1 in the Southern Conference. The Mountaineers are now 12-5 this year and 3-1 in league play. Nine of the Spartans' 15 wins this season have now come by a 3-0 score.
"I was really proud of the women today and the way they stayed together as a team," said head coach Patrick Nicholas. "We talked a lot last night about having a better mental focus and preparation. The team came out today and executed and did what they were supposed to do. It was really nice to see the team bounce back from adversity."
Redden had a double-double to lead UNCG as she recorded 10 kills and 12 digs on the afternoon. Newman nearly had her second double-double in as many days as she tallied 10 kills and nine digs. Ari Lysacek had a match-high 29 assists to go along with eight digs, as well.
Maggie Seeds had a match-high 12 kills for the Mountaineers in the losing effort and Courtney Rhein had a team-high 10 digs.
The Spartans got off to a good start in the first set as they led 7-4 on a kill by Kayren Finney. The Mountaineers rallied though to tie the match at 13 after a kill by Seeds, but UNCG went right back ahead and led 19-16 after an ace by Newman to force a Mountaineer timeout.
After taking a 22-18 lead, Appalachian State used its final timeout after another UNCG ace, this time by Lysacek. The Mountaineers would trim the Spartan lead to 24-22, but UNCG used a timeout and Billi Baker delivered a kill to give the Spartans the set, 25-22.
The second set proved to be even closer as there were 10 ties and four lead changes. UNCG trailed 8-5 early in the set before running off the next five points to go ahead, 10-8. The Mountaineers would tie the match at 11 before taking a 14-11 advantage on a UNCG error.
The Spartans would go on to trail by as many as four points at 20-16, before scoring three kills and an ace to tie the match at 20. The teams were still tied at 23-23, but UNCG got a pair of kills from Olivia Humphries to win the set, 25-23.
It appears UNCG would cruise in the third set as the Spartans never trailed. The Spartans came storming out of the gates as they jumped out to a commanding 17-9 lead. Appalachian State refused to quit though as they took the next five points to pull within 17-14 to get back into the set.
UNCG found itself leading 21-16 on a kill by Redden, but once again the Mountaineers rallied and won the next four points to make it a 21-20 contest. With UNCG holding on to a narrow 23-22 lead, a kill by Newman gave UNCG match point before a block by Finney and Lysacek gave the Spartans the set, 25-22.
The Spartans return to the court on Friday as they make the short trip to Elon to face the Phoenix at 6 p.m.
AGATE
UNCG def. ASU 25-22, 25-23, 25-22
UNCG (15-4, 3-1 SoCon) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Caley Redden 10-1-2; Ariel Newman 10-4-1; Olivia Humphries 7-0-2; Kayren Finney 7-0-5; Billi Baker 6-0-1; Ari Lysacek 6-3-2; Kellie Orewiler 1-1-0; Kimiko Naito 1-0-0; Alissa Beaudway 1-0-1; Totals 49-9-7.0. (Assists) - Ari Lysacek 29. (Dig leaders) - Caley Redden 12; Ariel Newman 9; Ari Lysacek 8
ASU (12-5, 3-1 SoCon) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Maggie Seeds 12-0-0; Meghann Forshey 9-0-0; Anna Wagner 7-0-1; Alison Blasingame 4-1-2; Caroline Sedon 3-1-3; Kelly Rhein 3-0-3; Kasey Sauls 1-0-0; Totals 39-2-5.0. (Assists) - Lauren Brown 19; Kasey Sauls 16. (Dig leaders) - Courtney Rhein 10; Kelly Rhein 8
Site: Boone, N.C. (Holmes Center)
Date: Oct 03, 2010 Attend: 254 Time: 1:37
Referees: Fish Gupton, Dennis Branch
- UNCG -
