NORFOLK, Va. – UNCG began its day with a dramatic come-from-behind win over Norfolk State before defeating Providence, 3-1, later in the day to win the Spartan Classic title on Saturday in Joseph Echols Hall. It was the first tournament title for UNCG since winning the High Point Volleyball Classic in 2008.

UNCG improved to a perfect 4-0 on the young season, while Norfolk State fell to 2-2 and Providence 0-4. The Spartans dropped just four sets the entire tournament.

Olivia Humphries and Ariel Newman were named to the All-Tournament team, while Humphries also earned the distinction of being named the Spartan Classic Most Outstanding Player.

"What a fantastic start to the season," said head coach Patrick Nicholas. "I liked how we stuck together as a team and the enthusiasm and effort that we gave all weekend. Our physicality and ball control really paid off for us as we were able to wear teams down. I also want to commend Norfolk State on having such a well-run tournament, especially for this being the first one they have hosted in school history."

In the first match against Norfolk State, sophomore Olivia Humphries led the Spartans offensively with 13 kills and nearly had a double-double as she added nine blocks. Ariel Newman had her second double-double in as many days as she chipped in 11 kills and 14 digs. Billi Baker also had double-digit kills with 10 and added seven blocks. Caley Redden had a team-high 20 digs and Ari Lysacek had 29 assists.

The two teams set the tone for the rest of the match in the first set as they played to a wild finish. The set saw 13 ties and seven lead changes in the seesaw battle. Norfolk State led 24-23 late in the set, but UNCG knotted it at 24 and neither team was able to close out the set.

The teams continued to go back-and-forth with UNCG seeing another set point at 34-33, but a service error and a pair of attack errors by UNCG allowed Norfolk State to win the set, 36-34. Norfolk State had eight set points and UNCG had four in the set.

UNCG responded though by winning the first three points in the second set and led 11-9 midway through the set. Norfolk State though took the next six points, thanks to a trio of errors by UNCG, to take control of the set at 15-11. UNCG would go on to tie the match at 18 later in the set on an error, but Norfolk State was able to hold on and win the set, 25-21.

UNCG began to turn the momentum in its favor to begin the third set as they jumped out to a 4-0 lead. UNCG led just 8-5 in the set before going on a 9-3 run to open its lead to 17-8 as it cruised to a 25-16 set win.

The team continued to attack as they won the fourth set in dominating fashion. UNCG closed the set on an incredible 17-4 run to win the set, 25-8, and force a fifth set.

In the decisive fifth set, UNCG trailed early before rallying to tie the set at 13. Norfolk State then had match point at 14-13, but UNCG claimed the final three points on a kill by Newman and a pair of Norfolk State errors to win, 16-14.

In the tournament finale against Providence, freshman Karrian Chambers and Alissa Beaudway shared team-best honors with 11 kills each. Humphries added 10 kills and five blocks in the match as well. Fellow freshman Kellie Orewiler had a match-high 24 digs from her libero position and Lysacek chipped in 31 assists.

The Spartans opened up a little sluggish in the first set with the Friars as they saw themselves trailing 13-11 in the set. UNCG took control though and went on an 11-2 run, capped by a pair of Humphries kills to take a 22-15 lead en route to taking the opening set, 25-18.

UNCG continued to roll as it led for much of the second set. The Spartans took the lead for good on a four-point run to go ahead 11-8 and never looked back as they went on to win the set, 25-20.

It appeared the Spartans were on its way to a three-game sweep as they led 19-15 in the third set, but the Friars continued to fight. Providence took the next eight points to take a 23-19 lead before winning the set, 25-21, on a kill by Lauren Hendel.

UNCG bounced back though in the fourth set as the Spartans ran off seven-straight points midway through the set to take a 15-10 lead. Savannah Tomlinson capped off the match with a kill for UNCG as the Spartans won the set, 25-18.

The Spartans will return to the court on Monday as they host Wingate for an exhibition in Fleming Gymnasium at 6:30 p.m.

AGATE

UNCG def. Norfolk State 34-36, 21-25, 25-16, 25-8, 16-14

UNCG (3-0) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Olivia Humphries 13-1-9; Ariel Newman 11-1-2; Billi Baker 10-0-7; Caley Redden 9-1-3; Ari Lysacek 3-5-1; Alissa Beaudway 3-0-3; Karrian Chambers 1-1-0; Samantha Deutchman 1-0-0; Kayren Finney 1-0-8; Kimiko Naito 0-1-0; Kellie Orewiler 0-1-0; Totals 52-11-19.0. (Assists) - Ari Lysacek 29; Kimiko Naito 12. (Dig leaders) - Caley Redden 20; Kellie Orewiler 19; Ariel Newman 14; Ari Lysacek 11

Norfolk State (2-1) (Kills-aces-blocks) - KNAFEL,Arielle 17-2-2; ARMSTEAD,Charlotte 14-0-2; GARY-CANTY,Paige 12-1-0; FRAZIER,Jasmine 12-0-1; KESSNER,Nicole 3-1-0; HENDERSON,Maatra 3-0-0; MORRIS,Ellica 1-0-0; BURT,Kristen 0-0-1; Totals 62-4-3.0. (Assists) - KESSNER,Nicole 48. (Dig leaders) - EAGLES,Noelle 30; KNAFEL,Arielle 23; GARY-CANTY,Paige 15; KESSNER,Nicole 15; HENDERSON,Maatra 11

Site: Norfolk, Va. (Joseph Echols Hall)
Date: Aug 28, 2010   Attend: 133   Time: 1:56  
Referees: Tammy Elliott, Heather Houser
Spartan Classic

UNCG def. Providence 25-18, 25-20, 21-25, 25-18

UNCG (4-0) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Alissa Beaudway 11-1-6; Karrian Chambers 11-0-0; Olivia Humphries 10-0-5; Billi Baker 5-1-1; Samantha Deutchman 5-1-1; Kayren Finney 3-0-7; Ari Lysacek 2-1-2; Kimiko Naito 1-1-1; Savannah Tomlinson 1-0-0; Kellie Orewiler 1-0-0; Totals 50-5-13.0. (Assists) - Ari Lysacek 31. (Dig leaders) - Kellie Orewiler 24; Lara Keyes 14

Providence (0-4) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Lauren Fletcher 18-0-4; Lauren Hendel 11-0-1; Shelagh Dolan 8-0-2; Emily Hall 4-3-3; Emily Morris 3-0-0; Carly Morrison 3-1-1; Kourtney Halliday 1-0-1; Anne Powers 0-0-1; Totals 48-4-7.0. (Assists) - Carly Morrison 39. (Dig leaders) - Cassie Muzzonigro 21; Emily Hall 12; Carly Morrison 12; Sondra Snyder 10; Emily Morris 10

Site: Norfolk, Va. (Joseph Echols Hall)
Date: Aug 28, 2010   Attend: 76   Time: 1:28  
Referees: Tammy Elliott, Heather Houser
Spartan Classic

Spartan Classic Most Outstanding Player
Olivia Humphries, UNCG

Spartan Classic All-Tournament Team
Arielle Knafel, NSU
Maida Kalic', Navy
Maigan Larsen, Kent State
Lauren Fletcher, Providence
Ariel Newman, UNCG
Olivia Humphries, UNCG

- UNCG -