CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – Maria Esch had 21 kills for the UNC Greensboro (UNCG) volleyball team during a tough 3-2 setback to Chattanooga on Monday night in a Southern Conference thriller at Maclellan Gym.
UNCG won the first and third sets, 25-21 and 25-22, but dropped the second set, 26-24, fourth set, 25-19, and the decisive set, 15-8. This was the second straight match that UNCG lost in five sets.
Esch had second consecutive double-double to start the season as she garnished her performance with a team-high 17 digs. She was one of five UNCG players to finish with double digit digs.
Records
UNCG 0-2 overall, 0-2 SoCon
Chattanooga 4-0, 2-0
Inside the Numbers
- Esch has 768 kills for her career.
- This was her 12th career double-double.
- Hannah Knier backed Esch with 11 kills.
- Knier's .435 hitting percentage on 23 swings led the Spartans.
- Gabby McHugh was strong again in directing the UNCG attack.
- McHugh finished with 47 assists, 16 digs, and eight kills.
- McHugh moved past Kimiko Naito and into 12th place all-time in program history.
- McHugh has 1,263 career assists.
- Brittany Wood had nine kills, one shy of her career best.
- Camille Anderson added eight kills.
- Stephanie Meysembourg hustled and bustled her way to 16 digs.
- Mandy Garvens (12 digs) and Jenna Wiggs combined for 22 digs.
- Grey Breen had six block assists to go along with six kills.
- Breen got UNCG off to a great start in the first set with three kills.
- Even though the Spartans dropped the second set, they rallied from 23-14 to tie the match at 24.
- Esch dominated the third set by collecting 10 of UNCG's 18 kills while hitting .471.
- The Spartans hit .357 as a team in the third set.
- UNCG raced to a 5-2 edge in the fourth set and never led in the decisive set.
- Mackenzie Saitta led the Mocs with 18 kills.
- Coniah Davis (.355 hitting percentage) and Gylian Finch (.407) had 13 kills each for the Mocs, who are 4-0 for the fourth time since 1986.
Up Next
- UNCG hosts Mercer on Sunday, February 7 at 6 p.m.
- The Spartans will honor three seniors (Esch, Holly Behrends and Gianna Rasmussen) prior to the start of the match.