For video of coach Patrick Nicholas' comments after the Davidson match, click here.
GREENSBORO, N.C. – UNCG held off two set points by Davidson in the first set and then completed an 11-point comeback in the third set as the Spartans defeated the Wildcats, 3-0 (27-25, 25-22, 28-26), on Friday evening in Fleming Gymnasium. The match was the first of two matches the Spartans will play during the Fight Like a Spartan weekend to raise awareness for breast cancer.
Trailing 20-9 in the third set, UNCG (11-12, 3-4 SoCon) began its incredible rally. The Spartans went on an 8-1 run to begin that forced Davidson (12-8, 2-5 SoCon) to use both timeouts as they pulled to within 21-17. UNCG would continue to chip at the Wildcat lead, but Davidson had set point at 24-21.
The Spartans then got a kill from Morgan Freeman and took advantage of a Wildcat attack error before Freeman delivered a service ace to tie the match at 24. After a Davidson point, Karrian Chambers hit her 13th kill of the evening to tie it back at 26. After a block by Chambers and Vicky Harley, UNCG had match point, but wasn't able to convert after a Caroline Brown kill for Davidson.
UNCG was able to rebound and get a kill from Chelsea Evans before Ariel Newman hit her 18th and final kill of the evening to give the Spartans the set, 28-26, and the 3-0 win.
Newman also had 13 digs to go along with her 18 kills for a double-double and fellow outside hitter Chambers had a double-double of her own with 13 kills and 11 digs. Setter Ari Lysacek also had a double-double with 39 assists and 14 digs, while Kellie Orewiler had a match-high 27 digs.
Brown led the Wildcats with 12 kills and 10 digs for a double-double. Setter Ariel Lay also had a double-double with 23 assists and a team-high 17 digs.
The Spartans came out on fire to open the match as they took the first seven points to open up a commanding lead. The Wildcats immediately mounted a comeback to make it 8-6, but the Spartans once again stretched out their lead to 13-6.
After Davidson rallied again, UNCG held just a 20-18 lead late in the set. The Wildcats rattled off the next four points to take their first lead of the set. With Davidson having set point at 24-22, UNCG got a kill from Chambers and Harley to tie it at 24 before another Chambers kill gave the Spartans set point. Davidson would tie it at 25 before a kill by Evans and a Wildcat attack error gave UNCG the opening set, 27-25.
The second set was another close one as there were 14 ties and two lead changes. After the teams traded points and were tied at 22 late in the set, the Spartans got three-straight kills from Newman to win the set, 25-22.
The Spartans will face reigning SoCon Tournament Champion Georgia Southern on Saturday night at 7 p.m. in Fleming Gymnasium.
AGATE
UNCG def. Davidson 27-25, 25-22, 28-26
Davidson (12-8, 2-5 SoCon) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Caroline Brown 12-3-2; Madison Benedict 5-0-2; Erin Lupfer 5-0-0; Christine Perzinski 4-0-0; Tindall Sewell 4-0-0; Ariel Ley 1-1-0; Taylor Pisel 1-0-0; Megan Chamberlin 0-1-0; Molly Crenshaw 0-1-0; Totals 32-6-3.0. (Assists) - Ariel Ley 23. (Dig leaders) - Ariel Ley 17; Molly Crenshaw 16; Caroline Brown 10
UNCG (11-12, 3-4 SoCon) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Ariel Newman 18-0-2; Karrian Chambers 13-3-1; Chelsea Evans 8-0-0; Vicky Harley 6-0-4; Morgan Freeman 5-1-1; Ari Lysacek 4-0-1; Kellie Orewiler 0-1-0; Totals 54-5-5.0. (Assists) - Ari Lysacek 39. (Dig leaders) - Kellie Orewiler 27; Ari Lysacek 14; Ariel Newman 13; Karrian Chambers 11
Site: Greensboro, N.C. (Fleming Gymnasium)
Date: Oct 14, 2011 Attend: 547 Time: 1:39
Referees: Stephen Shepard, Brian Jones
- UNCG -
