GREENSBORO, N.C. – The UNC Greensboro (UNCG) volleyball team showed determination throughout both matches on Saturday to round out the Spartan-Aggie Tournament. The Spartans defeated Coppin State 3-2, and then dropped a five-set match against NC A&T during opening weekend for volleyball.
 
This is the second-straight year of the Spartan-Aggie Tournament, where matches were split between the UNCG and NC A&T campuses.
 
Freshman Mya Wood and senior Gabriela McHugh were named to the All-Tournament Team. This is the second appearance for McHugh, as she was named MVP last year.
 
Match 1: UNCG 3 – Coppin State 2
UNCG's grit paid off in a five-set thriller to defeat Coppin State, 3-2, with set scores of 18-25, 25-16, 17-25, 26-24, and 16-14.
 
The Spartans were paced by three with double-digit kills, including Wood with 18, Elayne Grisbee with 11, and Jocelyn Carter with 10.
 
By the Numbers:

• Wood's earned her second double-double with 18 kills and 16 digs.
• McHugh had 43 assists with 11 digs, making it the 32nd double-double of her career.
• Grisbee led the match with a .350 hitting percentage and a career-best seven blocks.
• Ella Voegele notched a season- and match-best 25 digs.
• Jocelyn Carter had 10 kills, her second-straight match with double-digit kills.
• Taylor Robertson (14 digs) and Valeria Calderon (10 digs) made it five Spartans with double-digit digs.

How it Happened:

• During the first set, Coppin State went on a five-point streak to hold a six-point lead, 12-6. The Eagles continued to hold on, as the Spartans came within six, 24-18, before Coppin State took set one, 25-18.
• The Spartans responded and tied up the match after winning 25-16 and dominating with a .257 hitting percentage, the highest of the match.  
• Coppin State took the lead back with a 25-17 third set.
• The two teams battled back and forth before UNCG capitalized on three-straight points, including two from Wood to win 26-24.
• Nine tied scores in the fifth set made the two teams fight until the end, with the Spartans coming up victorious 16-14.

Records:

• UNCG: 2-0
• Coppin State: 1-1

Match 2: UNCG 3 – NC A&T 2
By the Numbers:

• McHugh's 33rd-career double-double included a season-best 44 assists and 13 digs.
• Taylor Robertson recorded her first-collegiate double-double behind 10 kills and 11 digs.  
• Wood matched her season best with 18 kills and eight digs.
• Daija Jackson's 12 kills were a career-high for the sophomore.
• She had 22 total attacks averaging a .318 hitting percentage with just five errors, holding the highest percentage on the team.

How it Happened:

• The Spartans had a dominating .467 hitting percentage, where UNCG was only down 2-1 before holding the lead for the rest of the set.
• The two teams went back and forth in the second set, before UNCG scored six-straight points, 25-21, to go up 2-0 on the Aggies.
• NC A&T took sets three, 25-18, and four, 25-22, before concluding the night with a tight set five, 15-13.
• UNCG had a 4-0 advantage in the fifth set and held the lead until the Aggies tied it at seven. Then after the Spartans tied it at 13, the Aggies scored back-to-back points to earn the win. 

Records:

• UNCG: 2-1
• NC A&T: 2-1

Head Coach Corey Carlin
"Playing two five-set matches in one day is tough. We showed tremendous grit against a good Coppin State team to win the morning match. Tonight, A&T just made a few more plays than we did and that was the difference in the match.  We fought hard against both opponents today which is the main takeaway. I'm proud of our team for showing that level of competitive fight because that's the team we want to be. For being the first weekend of the season and battling as we did, we have good momentum to build on."
 
Up Next
The Spartans take a week off to prepare for their own Tussle in the Triad Tournament from Friday, September 2 to Saturday, September 3. UNCG hosts South Carolina State on Friday at 7:00 p.m. They then face Georgia Southern on Saturday at 1:00 p.m. and then UNC Asheville at 7:00 p.m.
 
Spartan-Aggie All-Tournament Team
NC A&T - #23 Mallory Porcher (MVP)
NC A&T - #21 Naiya Sawtelle
NC A&T - #5 Maya Johnson
UNCG - #17 Mya Wood
UNCG - #9 Gabriela McHugh
Coppin State - #12 Miajavon Coleman
Bethune Cookman - #16 Jasmine Moore