GREENSBORO, N.C. – The UNC Greensboro (UNCG) volleyball team will continue The Southern Conference (SoCon) schedule on the road this week with a trip to Western Carolina on Friday, Oct. 13 at 6 p.m. before heading south to Furman on Saturday, Oct. 14 at 4 p.m.
Who: at Western Carolina
When: Friday, Oct. 13
Where: Cullowhee, N.C. | Ingles Court
Time: 6 p.m.
Tickets: Admission is Free
Live Stats | ESPN+ |
Who: at Furman
When: Saturday, Oct. 14
Where: Greenville, S.C. | Alley Gymnasium
Time: 4 p.m.
Tickets: Admission is Free
Live Stats | ESPN+ |
Quick Hitters for the Spartans
- UNCG heads into this weekend's road trip with a 1-16 overall record and 0-6 in the SoCon.
- Head Coach Felicia Turner gained her first win as a head coach on Friday, Sept. 8 with a 3-0 sweep over USC Upstate at the Black & Gold Classic, hosted by App State.
- The team most recently competed against The Citadel and Wofford at home last weekend, both matches went towards the visiting teams over four sets.
- Mallory Meers posted 35 assists for the Spartans for a 4.38 assists per set average over eight sets played last week. She leads the team with 295 assists on the season.
- Izora Gragg follows closely behind Meers, with 218 assists on the 2023 campaign.
- Aylin Baran led UNCG with 27 kills over eight sets last week for a 3.38 kills per set average. Baran added 10 digs, one block and 27.5 points on the week. She leads the Spartans with 187 kills this season.
- Daija Jackson leads the Blue & Gold with 36.0 total blocks this season. The middle blocker led UNCG with 9.0 total blocks last week for a 1.13 blocks per set average in eight sets. Four of those blocks were solo blocks. The middle blocker added five digs and 21 kills on the week for 27.5 points.
- Mya Wood leads UNCG as the libero this season with 198 digs and 3.14 digs per set average over 63 sets played.
Scouting Western Carolina
The Catamounts head into Friday's matchup against the Spartans with a 5-12 overall record and 2-4 in conference, ranking seventh in the conference. Western Carolina went 1-1 last weekend with a straight set loss at Samford but gained a four-set win at Chattanooga.
Ali Morris leads the Catamounts in two statistical categories this season with 190 kills and 202 digs. Sarah Janourova stands on top as the setter with 355 assists this season. Eden Punch and Logan Carr tag team at the net defensively, Punch with 56.0 total blocks and Carr with 53.0
The Catamounts lead in the overall series against UNCG at 33-26. Western Carolina defeated UNCG over straight sets in both conference matchups last season.
Scouting Furman
The Paladins come into the weekend 12-5 overall and 3-3 in the SoCon, ranking fifth overall in the conference. The team lost both its matches in straight sets last weekend to Chattanooga and Mercer.
Ava Augustson and Mary Beth Headley stand out on the outside with 138 and 132 kills, respectively on the season. Ella Abraham leads the squad as the setter with 497 assists on the 2023 stanza. On the defensive end, Kennedy Seekford leads with 287 digs and Izzy Castelloe stands on top with 58.0 blocks.
Furman leads in the overall series against UNCG at 39-16. The Spartans and Paladins most recently met in the 2022 SoCon Tournament when Furman came away with the four-set win to end UNCG's season. The Paladins also defeated the Spartans in both conference matchups last season. The first coming in straight sets in Greenville and the other coming in four in Fleming Gym.
Furman will face The Citadel at home on Friday, Oct. 13 at 7 p.m. before taking on UNCG.
Up Next
The Spartans will return home next weekend for UNCG's homecoming weekend. The squad will have a matchup to Mercer on Friday, Oct. 20 at 6 p.m. and to Samford on Saturday, Oct. 21 at 5 p.m. in Fleming Gymnasium. Friday's game will give fans the chance to win Apple AirPods or an Apple watch. Saturday's game will be a whiteout game, fans are encouraged to wear white. Saturday's game will also recognize alumni in attendance.
