GREENSBORO, N.C. – Coming off a sweep of Samford on Friday night, UNCG carried that momentum into its match against Chattanooga as the Spartans also swept the Mocs, 3-0 (25-22, 25-15, 27-25), on Saturday night in Fleming Gymnasium.
The Spartans improved their record to 14-3 on the year and a perfect 2-0 in Southern Conference play. The Mocs fell to 4-12 with the loss and 0-1 in the SoCon.
The 14-3 start is the best for a UNCG team since 1995 when that team went 24-3 to start the year. The win also marked the eighth time this year that the Spartans have swept their opponent.
"Another great win and we're at home," said coach Patrick Nicholas. "We're undefeated at home so far this season and we're starting off 2-0 (in the SoCon), which is a big change from last year. I'm really proud of the women on the team and Chattanooga is another quality team."
Ariel Newman led UNCG on the offensive end as she had a match-high 11 kills and added nine digs. Kayren Finney also had a nice match as she finished with nine kills and a .533 hitting percentage. Caley Redden had a team-high 11 digs and Kellie Orewiler added 10 digs from her libero position.
The Mocs were paced by Jennifer Kuroski who had nine kills, while Paula Passmore had a match-high 14 kills.
In the opening set, the Spartans held a narrow lead for much of the set. UNCG never trailed during the set, but its biggest lead was just four. UNCG held a 10-6 lead in the set before the Mocs had a kill from Ellie Kuhn and a pair of service errors to shave the Spartan lead to 10-9. The Spartans once again went up by four at 20-16 and went on to hold on and win the set, 25-22.
The Spartans took control early in the second set as they jumped out to a 7-2 lead. Chattanooga cut the Spartan lead to 15-12 on a kill by Courtney Barnes, but UNCG won the next six points to take a commanding 21-12 lead on a kill by Finney. The Spartans would go on to take the second set, 25-15, to take a 2-0 lead into the break.
It appeared as if UNCG would cruise to winning the third set as the Spartans led 14-10 midway through the set, but the Mocs rallied to make things interesting. Chattanooga fought back to tie the set at 17 before eventually taking a 20-19 lead. That was the first lead for the Mocs in the entire match.
UNCG trailed the Mocs 23-21 late in the third set before winning the next three points on a Mocs service error and kills from Kimiko Naito and Newman to give the Spartans match point at 24-23. Chattanooga rallied though to win the next two points to have set point, but UNCG tallied the final three points to win the set, 27-25.
The Spartans will return to action on Friday as they travel to Western Carolina on Saturday for a 3 p.m. contest.
AGATE
UNCG def. Chattanooga 25-22, 25-15, 27-25
Chattanooga (4-12, 0-1 SoCon) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Jennifer Kuroski 9-0-0; Ellie Kuhn 7-0-0; Christina Teter 5-0-0; Courtney Barnes 5-0-1; Heather Parman 3-0-0; Kirsten Beasley 3-0-0; Bailee Chastain 3-2-1; Meagan Ernd 3-1-0; Paula Passmore 0-1-0; Totals 38-4-2.0. (Assists) - Bailee Chastain 24. (Dig leaders) - Paula Passmore 14; Bailee Chastain 8
UNCG (14-3, 2-0 SoCon) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Ariel Newman 11-2-1; Kayren Finney 9-0-3; Billi Baker 6-0-2; Olivia Humphries 6-0-4; Caley Redden 2-0-2; Alissa Beaudway 2-0-1; Ari Lysacek 1-1-0; Kimiko Naito 1-1-0; Totals 38-4-8.0. (Assists) - Ari Lysacek 19; Kimiko Naito 15. (Dig leaders) - Caley Redden 11; Kellie Orewiler 10; Ariel Newman 9
Site: Greensboro, N.C. (Fleming Gymnasium)
Date: Sep 25, 2010 Attend: 225 Time: 1:26
- UNCG -
