GREENSBORO, N.C. – UNCG received double-digit kills from five different players on Senior Day as the Spartans defeated Appalachian State, 3-1 (22-25, 25-23, 25-23, 25-22), on Saturday night in Fleming Gymnasium. Prior to the match, seniors Alissa Beaudway, Billi Baker, Kayren Finney, Kimiko Naito and Caley Redden were honored in their final home match of their careers.
The Spartans improved their overall record to 21-11 and 9-7 in the Southern Conference. Appalachian State finished the regular season with an 18-11 record and 9-7 in the league. Due to UNCG's two wins over Appalachian State this season, the Spartans will receive the two seed in the North Division, while Appalachian State will be the three seed.
"It was a great match, it was a good win," said coach Patrick Nicholas. "I'm so proud of the team. We struggled and we had some great talks and meetings this week and our heart is back. We were picked to finish fourth and we finished second. This is huge for Spartan volleyball."
Ariel Newman led all players offensively as she had a match-high 13 kills and had 16 digs for a double-double. Redden also had a double-double as she posted 12 kills and 15 digs. Fellow seniors Baker and Finney also had double-digit kills with 11 apiece and Olivia Humphries chipped in 10 kills. Ari Lysacek also had a double-double with 46 assists and 18 digs.
Alison Blasingame led the Mountaineers as she had 12 kills, while Maggie Seeds and Caroline Sedon added 11 kills each. Libero Courtney Rhein also had a match-high 27 digs in the losing effort.
Just like the match in Boone earlier this season, all of the sets were decided by three points or less.
In the opening set, the Mountaineers jumped out to an 8-3 lead, but the Spartans came right back to tie the set at 10 on an ASU attack error. From then on the two teams traded points for most of the set. UNCG held a narrow 19-18 lead late in the set before Appalachian State won the next five points to take a 23-19 lead. The Spartans cut it to 24-22, but the Mountaineers got a kill from Meghann Forshey to win the opening set, 25-22.
The second set was just as close between the two teams as the Mountaineers held a 12-10 lead midway through the set. UNCG took the next five points to go ahead 15-12, a lead it would never relinquish. The biggest Spartan lead was 21-18 before ASU cut the lead to 23-22. UNCG came right back with a pair of kills sandwiched around a kill by Forshey to win the set, 25-23, and tie the match at one heading into intermission.
Appalachian State took control early in the third set like it did in the first set with a 7-3 lead. Once again, the Spartans mounted a mid-set rally as they ran off eight-straight points to take an 18-14 lead. The Mountaineers tied the match at 21 and again at 23 before Redden delivered a kill and solo block to give UNCG the set, 25-23.
The fourth and final set was the closest as the teams were tied 10 times and swapped the lead on eight occasions. UNCG led just 13-11 in the set before the Mountaineers went on a 5-0 run to go ahead, 16-13.
UNCG immediately responded with a 6-0 run of its own to retake the lead, 19-16. Appalachian State countered with four-straight points later in the set to pull in front, 22-21. Once again though, the Spartans came right back with four-straight points of their own to win the set, 25-22.
The Spartans will return to action next weekend at the Southern Conference Championships in Boone, N.C. UNCG, the two seed in the North Division, will face Furman, the three seed in the South Division, on Friday at 10 a.m.
AGATE
UNCG def. Appalachian State 22-25, 25-23, 25-23, 25-22
Appalachian State (18-11, 9-7 SoCon) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Meghann Forshey 12-0-3; Alison Blasingame 12-0-2; Maggie Seeds 11-0-3; Caroline Sedon 11-1-9; Lauren Swecker 9-0-1; Anna Wagner 8-1-4; Kasey Sauls 1-1-0; Totals 64-3-11.0. (Assists) - Lauren Brown 31; Kasey Sauls 25. (Dig leaders) - Courtney Rhein 27; Anna Wagner 17; Lauren Swecker 9
UNCG (21-11, 9-7 SoCon) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Ariel Newman 13-0-1; Caley Redden 12-0-3; Billi Baker 11-0-5; Kayren Finney 11-0-4; Olivia Humphries 10-0-4; Ari Lysacek 2-1-0; Alissa Beaudway 1-0-0; Kimiko Naito 1-0-0; Kellie Orewiler 0-2-0; Totals 61-3-9.0. (Assists) - Ari Lysacek 46. (Dig leaders) - Ari Lysacek 18; Kellie Orewiler 18; Ariel Newman 16; Caley Redden 15
Site: Greensboro, N.C. (Fleming Gymnasium)
Date: Nov 13, 2010 Attend: 487 Time: 2:11
Referees: Tad Watson, Randy McLamb
- UNCG -
