WILMINGTON, N.C. – UNCG fell to UCF, 3-2, in the battle of two unbeaten teams earlier in the afternoon, but rebounded to sweep host UNC Wilmington, 3-0, as the Spartans split at the UNCW Courtyard by Marriott Tournament on Saturday.
The Spartans are now 7-1 on the season, while UCF remains perfect at 6-0 and UNCW falls to 2-4.
Seniors Caley Redden and Kayren Finney were named to the all-tournament team at the conclusion of the tournament.
"I was pleased with the way we recovered from our first match," said head coach Patrick Nicholas. "We missed an opportunity earlier in the day, but again we picked ourselves up and came back to fight against UNCW. When we take care of the ball and limit our errors we can be really great, but we just made too many errors in the first match. Also, I thought Kayren Finney had a heck of a tournament and was glad to see her recognized as an all-tournament performer."
Against UCF, Caley Redden led the Spartans with 13 kills and 19 digs for a double-double. Junior Ariel Newman also had a double-double as she posted 10 kills and 12 digs. Ari Lysacek added a team-high 35 assists and senior Kayren Finney chipped in eight blocks.
The Spartans opened up the match on fire as they took the opening set, 25-10. The two teams were tied at four early in the set before UNCG rattled off 21 of the final 27 points to easily win the set.
The second set was much closer between the two sides. The teams were tied at eight in the set, but the Spartans went on an 8-3 run to take a 16-11 advantage. The Knights fought back to pull within 20-17, although they were never to pull closer as UNCG took the set, 25-20.
It appeared as if the Spartans were on their way to their third sweep in as many matches as they led 17-14 in the third set. UCF continued to fight though and rallied to go win seven of the next eight points to take a 21-18. UNCG was never able to recover as the Knights took the set, 25-22.
The Knights carried their momentum into the fourth set as they took the first eight points of the set. UNCG clawed back to make it a 14-11 game, but the Spartans could never get closer than three points and UCF took the set, 25-19.
The fifth and final set was close in the early going as the two sides were tied at six. UCF took the next five points though to go ahead 11-6 on a kill by Nichole Riedel. UNCG came back to make it a one-point set at 13-12, but the Knights got a kill and a block to take the set, 15-12, and win the match.
In the second match, Finney led the Spartans offensively with 10 kills. Lysacek was the only Spartan with a double-double as she turned in 16 assists and 14 digs. Olivia Humphries also added nine kills for UNCG and Billi Baker chipped in eight kills.
The Spartans rebounded in their final match of the tournament against host UNC Wilmington as they jumped out to a 9-4 lead in the opening set. UNCG extended its lead to 23-15 on a UNCW error before claiming the set, 25-18, on another Seahawk error.
The second set was the closest as there were five ties and three lead changes between the two squads. The Spartans found themselves trailing 14-10 midway through the set, but they rallied to take a 17-16 lead on a kill by Humphries. UNCG continued to pour on its offense as a kill from Redden gave the Spartans the set, 25-21.
In the final set, the two sides once again found themselves in a battle as the Seahawks held a narrow 17-16 lead. UNCG though, called a timeout to regroup and went on to win the next seven points and go ahead, 23-17. The Spartans won the set, 25-19, on a service error by UNCW.
The Spartans return to action next weekend as they travel to Johnson City, Tenn. for the Buccaneer Classic. UNCG will kick off the tournament on Friday against UNC Asheville at 4:30 p.m.
AGATE
All-Tournament Team:
Bria Brimmer, South Carolina State
Meredith Murphy, UCF
Evija Vilde, UCF
Kayren Finney, UNCG
Caley Redden, UNCG
Kelli Clear, UNCW
Tournament MVP:
Kristen Fisher, UCF
UCF def. UNCG 10-25, 20-25, 25-22, 25-19, 15-12
UCF (5-0) (Kills-aces-blocks) - FISHER, Kristin 14-0-1; CRUMP, Angelica 9-0-0; VILDE, Evija 8-0-2; RIEDEL, Nichole 8-0-1; McCUTCHEON, Tory 8-0-3; REX, Sara 2-0-1; VUKSON, Rachel 1-1-3; HARRISON, Dani 0-1-0; MENDEZ, Roxy 0-1-0; Totals 50-3-7.0. (Assists) - VUKSON, Rachel 40. (Dig leaders) - MURPHY, Meredith 18; FISHER, Kristin 16; RRISON, Dani 10; MENDEZ, Roxy 8
UNCG (6-1) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Caley Redden 13-1-3; Ariel Newman 10-1-4; Kayren Finney 8-0-8; Olivia Humphries 7-0-2; Billi Baker 5-0-4; Ari Lysacek 2-0-0; Alissa Beaudway 1-0-1; Kellie Orewiler 0-2-0; Totals 46-4-11.5. (Assists) - Ari Lysacek 35. (Dig leaders) - Caley Redden 19; Ariel Newman 12; Billi Baker 11; Ari Lysacek 10; Kellie Orewiler 8
Site: Wilmington, N.C. (Hanover Hall)
Date: Sep 04, 2010 Attend: 67 Time: 1:59
Referees: Charles Yang, Ronald Weigand
UNCG def. UNCW 25-18, 25-21, 25-19
UNCG (7-1) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Kayren Finney 10-0-6; Olivia Humphries 9-0-3; Billi Baker 8-0-3; Caley Redden 7-0-1; Ariel Newman 4-0-3; Alissa Beaudway 3-0-1; Kimiko Naito 2-0-0; Ari Lysacek 0-3-0; Kellie Orewiler 0-1-0; Totals 43-4-9.0. (Assists) - Ari Lysacek 16; Kimiko Naito 12. (Dig leaders) - Ari Lysacek 14; Ariel Newman 10; Caley Redden 10
UNCW (2-4) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Clear, Keli 8-1-3; Mohrman, Emily 6-1-2; Mallard, Jennifer 5-0-0; Friedl, Kimberly 4-0-4; Seifert, Samantha 3-0-0; Laite, Christi 3-0-0; Caricato, Rachel 3-1-1; Bendig, Kelsey 0-0-1; Totals 32-3-6.0. (Assists) - Bendig, Kelsey 23. (Dig leaders) - Bendig, Kelsey 10; Caricato, Rachel 7
Site: Wilmington, N.C. (Hanover Hall)
Date: Sep 04, 2010 Attend: 195 Time: 1:15
Referees: Charles Yang, Richard Laskey
- UNCG -
