GREENSBORO, N.C. – Senior Kayren Finney and junior Ariel Newman each posted double-doubles for UNCG as the Spartans defeated Wofford, 3-2 (25-19, 18-25, 25-12, 23-25, 15-10), in Southern Conference volleyball action on Saturday night in Fleming Gymnasium.
The Spartans improved their record to 16-5 this season, including a 4-2 mark in the SoCon. The Terriers fell to 11-12 on the year and 1-5 in the league.
"It was a great five-set match," said coach Patrick Nicholas. "This was great to go five, to put our backs against the wall and we were so strong in the fifth set."
Finney had a season-high 14 kills and tied a career-high with 10 blocks to record just her second-career double-double. Newman, who was coming off a career-high 16 kills on Friday, registered a match-high 15 kills and added 13 digs for a double-double. Ari Lysacek had a double-double, as well, as she had a match-high 29 assists and 12 digs. Kellie Orewiler and Caley Redden tied for the match-high in digs as they each had 17.
Stacy Byrd led the Terriers offensively as she had 14 kills. Bekah Dorsey had a double-double for Wofford with 26 assists and 14 digs. Reagan Styles had a team-high 15 digs as the libero.
With the match tied at two, the two teams headed towards a fifth and decisive set. In the set, the two sides kept it close as they were tied at five in the early going. The Spartans held a narrow 9-7 lead before rattling off the next four points to take a 13-7 lead on a kill by Caley Redden. The Terriers would go on to pull within 13-10, but the Spartans held on to win the final two points and take the set, 15-10.
The two teams traded points to open the match as they were tied at 11 apiece in the first set. The Spartans then won eight of the next 11 points to take a 19-14 lead. UNCG closed out the set with a kill from Alissa Beaudway to win the opening set, 25-19.
The Terriers came fighting back to open the second set as they took a 5-1 lead and never trailed the entire set. UNCG tied the match at 12 on an ace by Newman, but Wofford responded by going on an 8-2 run to take a commanding 20-14 lead. The Terriers went on to win the set, 25-18, to tie the match at one going into intermission.
The Spartans came out of the break with renewed vigor as they opened the third set by winning six of the first seven points. Wofford came back to pull within 11-9, but the Spartans regrouped and finished the set on an incredible 14-3 run to win the set, 25-12.
It appeared as if UNCG was heading towards winning the match in four sets as the Spartans took a 10-5 lead to open the fourth set. Trailing 15-13 midway through the set, Wofford won the next four points to go ahead, 17-15. The two sides then began to trade points before the Terriers went in front 23-21 on an ace. UNCG pulled within one at 24-23, but Wofford got an ace from Liguori to win the set, 25-23.
The Spartans return to the court on Friday as they travel to Georgia Southern to face the Eagles at 6 p.m.
AGATE
UNCG def. Wofford 25-19, 18-25, 25-12, 23-25, 15-10
Wofford (11-12, 1-5 SoCon) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Stacy Byrd 14-0-0; Wendy Burnett 8-0-2; Catelyn Amende 8-1-0; Amanda Liguori 7-1-1; Arden Anderson 6-0-3; Rachel Woodlee 3-0-1; Bekah Dorsey 3-0-0; Melissa Kearse 2-2-0; Tara Gough 1-0-0; Reagan Styles 0-1-0; Totals 52-5-4.0. (Assists) - Bekah Dorsey 26; Tara Gough 16. (Dig leaders) - Reagan Styles 15; Bekah Dorsey 14
UNCG (16-5, 4-2 SoCon) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Ariel Newman 15-1-1; Kayren Finney 14-0-10; Billi Baker 9-1-2; Olivia Humphries 6-0-2; Caley Redden 6-1-1; Alissa Beaudway 5-0-3; Ari Lysacek 3-2-3; Kellie Orewiler 1-3-0; Totals 59-8-12.0. (Assists) - Ari Lysacek 29; Kimiko Naito 16. (Dig leaders) - Caley Redden 17; Kellie Orewiler 17; Ariel Newman 13; Ari Lysacek 12
Site: Greensboro, N.C. (Fleming Gymnasium)
Date: Oct 09, 2010 Attend: 221 Time: 2:00
Referees: Bonnie O'Connor, Tad Watson
- UNCG -
