NOTE: Final statistics were not available at press time. They will be posted once we receive them. 

BOONE, N.C. – It was all smiles on the court as the UNC Greensboro Spartans opened their 2021 season with a 3-1 (25-17, 25-21, 19-25, 25-15) win over the Radford Highlanders at the Appalachian State Tournament on Friday night.
 
Newcomers Kayla White and Jocelyn Carter played a big role in the Spartans first win of the season.
 
"I came out a little nervous, but my team picked me up, so I was really excited to be out there with them even though I struggled a little bit going into the second set," said Carter. "I came back in the fourth set and my team picked me up and I was able to perform better, and we ended up winning."
 
The win was a team effort and White acknowledged her new squad.
 
"I think we have an incredible dynamic as a team," said White. "We can look at each other and say the most brutally honest stuff and know that we all are on the same page and want the same outcome. We all have the same goals and want to achieve the same thing. We all come from really different backgrounds, and it makes us super diverse. I love playing with my teammates because we can be straight up with each other, but we all know we love each other and have each other's backs at the end of the day"
 
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Spartans came out of the gates hot, scoring the first four points of the match.
• Junior Brittany Wood scored the first point of UNCG's 2021 season with an assist from Gabriela McHugh.
• The Spartans ended the first set by scoring the last nine of 16 points.
• UNCG battled back from a two-point deficit in the second set. Middle hitter Grey Breen tied the set, placing the ball right in the middle of two Radford defenders.
• A five-point run by the Spartans late in the set would put them on the verge of taking a two-set lead.
• Graduate Kayla White would solidify the 2-0 lead with a kill in the back right corner of the Highlanders court.
• The Blue and Gold had the lead for the majority of the third set but a late run by Radford would give them the third set with a score of 25-19.
• The Spartans and Highlanders tied three times in the fourth set, but each time was early in the set.
• UNCG's biggest lead was 10 points. The 10-point lead came at the end of the match when the Blue and Gold scored the last point.
• Setter Gabriela McHugh scored the match-winning point with a sneaky tip over the net.

 
COREY'S COURSE OF THOUGHT
 
UNCG head coach Corey Carlin on the first win of the season:
"That feels good. Any time you start the season, and you get a win is good. It's a good momentum builder, especially at a tournament. It gives you a good momentum going into the next day."
 
Carlin on Kayla White and Jocelyn Carter's first Spartan performance:
"Jocelyn has a lot of talent. I think this was a good match for her to learn to stay in the game mentally when she starts to have a few errors. We pulled her in the third set because she wasn't performing at the end of the second. I'm proud of her though because she responded mentally coming back into the fourth."
 
"Kayla is a consistent force for us. We were excited to bring her in for her final year of competition. There are some things she can work on and get a little better but, her consistency and communication on the court are valuable to our team right now."
 
UPCOMING
The Spartans will close out the Appalachian State Tournament with two matches tomorrow. They will start at 10 a.m. with a match against Eastern Kentucky. UNCG will close out the day with a match against hosts, App State, at 7 p.m.