BOONE, N.C. – The UNC Greensboro Spartans split its final day of the Appalachian Tournament. The Blue and Gold fell to EKU, 3-2, but beat the hosts, Appalachian State in straight sets Saturday night.
 

HOW IT HAPPENED (EKU)

• The Colonels opened the set taking a quick 15-6 lead. UNCG scored seven of the last nine points, but it wasn't enough.
• The Spartans largest lead of the match came in the second set as they went on a 14-0 run to open the set.
• The run included points from Amanda Garvens, Kayla White, Hannah Knier, and Brittany Wood.
• Set two ended with a final score of 25-8.
• Set three continued the theme of an ace to start the set. For the third set, it was in EKU's favor.
• UNCG had a lead of 13-8, but the Colonels fought back and tied it at 14.
• EKU scored nine of the last 10 points to take set three and a 2-1 lead in the match.
• The fourth set did not start off with an ace. EKU scored the first point with a kill.
• Set four included four ties between the Spartans and Colonels. The last tie was a 14-14 score after Hannah Knier scored for the Spartans.
• Brittany Wood gave the Spartans the lead and the Blue and Gold never lost it.
• A block from Taylor Robertson and Knier would end the set and force a fifth set.
• A block from UNCG started the final set.
• The fifth set included five ties between the two squads. UNCG had the lead four times, but the last tie gave EKU a chance to take the lead and they did.
• UNCG fell in the last set 15-12.
• The Spartans finished the match with a .273 hitting percentage which is fourth in the record book for a team hitting percentage in a five-set match.

HOW IT HAPPENED (App State)

• Hannah Knier and Jocelyn Carter scored the Spartans first point of the match with an assisted block.
• Both teams battled hard, tying six times.
• UNCG took the final lead on a Mountaineer error.
• Grey Been ended the set with a service ace.
• Spartans kept their momentum up in the second set, taking a dominant 12-5 lead.
• The early lead was led by Brittany Wood and Jocelyn Carter who each scored two points.
• The Mountaineers would only score six more points as the Spartans took the set 25-11.
• The momentum never stopped for UNCG, taking a 7-5 lead in the third set.
• Gabriela McHugh gave the Spartans a three-point lead late in the third set.
• Kayla White ended the set with kill right in front of App State's middle blocker.

BY THE NUMBERS (EKU)

• Kayla White registered a double-double with 16 kills and 14 digs. It's her second double double as Spartan.
• Five Spartans had double-digit digs in the match. White led with 14, followed by Amanda Garvens and Stephanie Meysembourg with 11, and Gabriela McHugh and Jenna Wiggs with 10.
• Brittany Wood set a new career high of 12 kills in the match. Her previous high of 11 was set last season in both Furman matches.
• Gabriela McHugh had 44 assists in the match. Her career high is 57 against UIW set her freshman season.
• Jenna Wiggs led both teams with three service aces. Her career total is now 63.
• Hannah Knier was the only Spartan to have a solo block. She registered two in the match, the most for both teams.

 
BY THE NUMBERS (App State)

• Kayla White led with 14 kills and four service aces. She now has a career total of 96 aces, four away from the 100 milestone.
• Gabriela McHugh led both teams with 26 assists.
• Hannah Knier went 3-for-3 in attacks. She posted a perfect hitting percentage in the match.
• Freshman Jocelyn Carter led the match with four block assists.

 
COREY'S COURSE OF THOUGHT
 
UNCG head coach Corey Carlin on overall performance:
"First off, I have to give credit to Eastern Kentucky. They had a long match last night. They went to five sets and then they had a short turnaround time. I was impressed with their fight this morning, so you must acknowledge that. On our side, I thought we came out a little slow. Mentally we were not as ready to go with our energy and our focus as I thought we needed to be, and that score reflected that. I think after the first half of the first set we really locked in, and I think the rest of the match we showed good fight and we had some really good plays." 

Carlin on the 14-0 run to start the second set:
"That was a huge momentum builder. Anytime you get a run of that length in our sport is huge. But I want to give credit to our girls. It think after the first set they learned a valuable lesson about how important energy and focus is to start a match and they came out and did that."

Carlin on beating App State 3-0 on their court:
"It's huge. Anytime you can get a road win, but especially in a tournament setting in the last match, is special. With it being opening weekend, it's just great momentum to build on."

Carlin on Kayla Whites impact on the team so early:
"Kayla is tremendous. We're so fortunate that she's a spartan. Her consistency, her gamesmanship, her demeanor on the court, and all those things mean so much to us. When you have that energy from an upperclassman is really huge. She's special."

Carlin on the mentality of the team playing at home next week:
"We're in our own beds. We don't have the rigors of travel which is a good thing. It's a different dynamic, but the first thing we need to take advantage of these next couple of days is rest. We haven't played this much volleyball n 36 hours before. Taking advantage of these next couple of days and coming back in the gym on Tuesday ready to go."
 
UPCOMING
The Spartans co-host the Spartan-Aggie Tournament next Friday and Saturday. UNCG will open the tournament at home against Norfolk State at 6 p.m. on Friday, September 3.