GREENSBORO, N.C. – UNCG defeated Norfolk State, 3-1 (24-26, 25-22, 25-15, 25-15), in its first match of the day before scoring a 3-1 (25-16, 25-13, 24-26, 25-18) win over Gardner-Webb to win the Spartan Spiketacular title on Saturday afternoon in Fleming Gymnasium.

The Spartans improved to 12-3 on the year, while Norfolk State fell to 5-9 and Gardner-Webb dropped to 4-9.

Junior Ariel Newman was crowned tournament MVP, while sophomore Olivia Humphries and senior Caley Redden were named to the all-tournament team. Freshman Kellie Orewiler took home Libero of the Tournament honors for her play over the weekend.

Redden and Newman led UNCG in the first match as they both posted double-doubles. Newman had 13 kills and tied for a team-high 12 digs, while Redden had 13 kills and 11 digs. Kimiko Naito had a team-high 20 assists and Orewiler tied Newman with 12 digs.

Ellica Morris had a match-high 15 kills for Norfolk State and Charlotte Armstead added 11 kills of her own. Nicole Kessner had a match-high 28 assists as well.

Earlier this season, the two teams played a close five-set match and it appeared this game was going to be more of the same in the first set. There were 10 ties and seven lead changes throughout the set.

UNCG led in the early going before Norfolk State ran off five straight points to take a 10-7 lead. UNCG battled back to take a 14-12 advantage on a block by Redden and Humphries. Norfolk State held a 23-19 lead late, but UNCG scored five straight points to have set point at 24-23. Norfolk State called a timeout, though, and won the final three points to win the first set, 26-24.

The second set was more of the same between the two sides as neither team as they traded points. It appeared that Norfolk State was on its way to taking a 2-0 lead as it led 21-18 late. UNCG rallied, however, and won seven of the final eight points to win the set, 25-22, and tie the match at one.

After the intermission, the two teams once again found themselves in a close battle. UNCG led only 10-9 before winning the next five points to take control of the set. Norfolk State battled back to pull within three at 17-14 on a kill by Jasmine Frazier. That was as close as Norfolk State would get, though, as UNCG closed out the set on an 8-1 run to win the set, 25-15.

UNCG carried its momentum into the fourth set and led Norfolk State 12-10 midway through the set. UNCG then went on a 10-2 run en route to winning the set, 25-15.

In the second match, Newman and Billi Baker each had 13 kills and Humphries added 11 kills to lead the Spartans on the offensive end. Orewiler led the Spartans with a match-high 16 digs and Redden and Ari Lysacek had 12 digs each.

The Spartans came storming out of the gate against Gardner-Webb in the opening set as they built an 8-1 lead to start the match. UNCG went on to extend its lead to 19-9 on a service ace by Orewiler before winning the set, 25-15.

In the second set, the two teams played close in the early going as UNCG held a narrow 7-6 lead. The Spartans then went on a 14-3 run to blow open the set and take a 21-9 lead en route to taking the set, 25-13.

After the break, Gardner-Webb came out with more energy and won the third set, 26-24. UNCG had an early 9-5 lead, but the Bulldogs ran off six straight points to take an 11-9 lead. The two teams battled back-and-forth throughout the set before Gardner-Webb had set point at 24-23. A kill by Karrian Chambers tied things at 24, but the Bulldogs won the next two points to win the set.

In the fourth and final set, UNCG took control early at 10-5, but Gardner-Webb fought back to tie the set at 15. The Spartans rebounded, though, and closed the set on a 10-3 run to win the set, 25-18.

The Spartans return to action on Friday as they open Southern Conference play by hosting Samford for a 5 p.m. contest in Fleming Gymnasium.

AGATE

UNCG def. Norfolk State 24-26, 25-22, 25-15, 25-15

Norfolk State (4-9) (Kills-aces-blocks) - MORRIS,Ellica 15-1-0; ARMSTEAD,Charlotte 11-0-1; FRAZIER,Jasmine 7-0-0; KNAFEL,Arielle 7-0-0; KESSNER,Nicole 5-0-0; GARY-CANTY,Paige 4-3-0; BURT,Kristen 1-1-0; Totals 50-5-1.0. (Assists) - KESSNER,Nicole 28. (Dig leaders) - GARY-CANTY,Paige 13; KNAFEL,Arielle 13; MORRIS,Ellica 8; EAGLES,Noelle 8

UNCG (11-3) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Caley Redden 13-0-3; Ariel Newman 13-1-2; Olivia Humphries 9-1-5; Alissa Beaudway 6-0-4; Samantha Deutchman 2-0-1; Ari Lysacek 2-0-0; Billi Baker 1-0-4; Kimiko Naito 0-2-0; Kellie Orewiler 0-4-0; Totals 46-8-12.0. (Assists) - Kimiko Naito 20; Ari Lysacek 18. (Dig leaders) - Kellie Orewiler 12; Ariel Newman 12; Caley Redden 11

Site: Greensboro, N.C. (Fleming Gymnasium)
Date: Sep 18, 2010   Attend: 148   Time: 1:40  
Referees: Dave Rover, Wade Brence

UNCG def. Gardner-Webb 25-15, 25-13, 24-26, 25-18

Gardner-Webb (4-9) (Kills-aces-blocks) - WILCOX, Laura 11-0-5; RICHIE, Melissa 11-1-1; COCKRELL, Tyler 8-0-1; SOLANO, Carol 3-1-2; MOFFITT, Evan 2-0-2; HOLTE, Emily 2-0-1; RHYNE, Molly 2-1-1; MURPHY, Amanda 2-0-1; EVANS, Lauren 0-1-0; Totals 41-4-8.0. (Assists) - MOFFITT, Evan 34. (Dig leaders) - RICHIE, Melissa 14; MOFFITT, Evan 11; EVANS, Lauren 8

UNCG (12-3) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Ariel Newman 13-2-2; Billi Baker 13-0-1; Olivia Humphries 11-0-4; Karrian Chambers 7-0-1; Caley Redden 6-1-1; Samantha Deutchman 6-0-0; Ari Lysacek 2-1-0; Alissa Beaudway 2-1-2; Kellie Orewiler 0-1-0; Totals 60-6-6.0. (Assists) - Ari Lysacek 28; Kimiko Naito 17. (Dig leaders) - Kellie Orewiler 16; Caley Redden 12; Ari Lysacek 12

Site: Greensboro, N.C. (Fleming Gymnasium)
Date: Sep 18, 2010   Attend: 378   Time: 1:34  
Referees: Dave Rover, Ronnie Mutter

- UNCG -