GREENSBORO, N.C. – The UNCG volleyball team continued its winning ways Saturday night as the Spartans ran their winning streak to nine-straight games with a 3-0 sweep (25-22, 25-20, 25-22) victory over The Citadel at McAlister Field House. The victory improves the Spartans to 19-8 overall and 9-3 in Southern Conference play as they return home for their final two home matches next weekend.

UNCG placed three in double figure kills in the victory with sophomore Ashley Muench (Hurdle Mills, N.C./Orange) leading the way with 13 kills and 10 digs. Redshirt freshman Jasmine Jones (Stafford, Va./Brooke Point) added 11 kills and three blocks while senior Julia Westerbur (College Station, Texas/SMU) posted a .364 hitting percentage with 10 kills in the victory. The Spartans as a team hit .216 for the match, including a .378 percentage in the third and final set as they tallied 17 kills.

The Spartans were also strong on the defensive end as they posted 78 digs in the victory. Senior Katherine Santiago (San Juan, Puerto Rico) led the way with 17 digs while freshman setter Allison Penner (Aurora, Neb./Aurora) added 15 digs to go along with her 37 assists.

The Spartans opened set one slowly, trailing 11-10 early on before posting a 6-1 run to take a 16-12 lead. Junior outside hitter Jessica Brezwyn (Darien, Ill./Hillsdale South) led the way with three straight kills to ignite the run. The Citadel pulled within one at 23-22 but Brezwyn sealed the set victory with a kill on the final point. She finished with four kills in the first set while Muench also added four kills.

The Spartans and Bulldogs were closely knotted in set two at 9-9 before the Spartans posted a 5-1 run to gain some breathing room. Anna Romaniszyn (Port Orange, Fla./Spruce Creek) gave UNCG some energy off the bench with a pair of kills. UNCG was able to close out the set two victory as it went to work in the middle with Jones and Westerbur each recording five kills apiece to lead the way.

The Spartans closed out the three-set victory as it weathered a push by the Bulldogs. The Citadel held an 18-17 lead in set three but UNCG was able to claw back and close out the victory as Westerbur recorded two kills late to end the threat. The Spartans also went to Muench in set three as she finished with eight kills in the deciding set.

Moriah Smith led The Citadel (7-21, 0-11 SoCon) with 11 kills and 10 digs, hitting at a .450 clip in the loss. Bailey Kernodle chipped in 10 kills for the Bulldogs while Samantha Espy led the way with 19 digs.

UNCG returns to action Friday night as the Spartans host Mercer. Game time is set for 7 p.m. at Fleming Gymnasium where UNCG is 9-0 this season.

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