HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – The UNC Greensboro (UNCG) volleyball team claimed its first sets of the season on Friday by winning game two of its matchup to Coppin St. (CSU) and game three against Marshall. However, the Spartans dropped both matches on Friday at the Marshall Invitational to CSU, 3-1 (18-25, 25-19, 22-25, 21-25) and to Marshall, 3-1 (9-25, 17-25, 25-23, 20-25).

HOW IT HAPPENED (CSU)
The entire match against the Eagles was a back-and-forth battle that resulted in CSU coming away with the 3-1 win over the Spartans.
 
Set one was the best game for CSU with the team winning by a seven-point margin (25-18). The Spartans started off the game with a 4-2 run thanks to kills from Daija Jackson, Madeline Timmerman and Aylin Baran. However, after a service error from Baran and a service ace from CSU's Coco Figueroa, the Eagles tallied a 7-2 run to take a 9-5 advantage and hold its lead for the remainder of the first set. UNCG was able to hold the Eagles at set point for two rallies, but a service error from Mya Wood finally sealed the first set for the Eagles (25-18).
 
The second set was a very close game with seven ties and four lead changes. With the Eagles up 16-13, a kill from Sierra Herndon sparked a 5-0 run to give the Spartans a two-point lead (18-16). UNCG held the lead for the remainder of set two. The Spartans produced a 4-0 run that was ended by back-to-back kills from Jackson to allow UNCG to win its first set of the 2023 season (25-19).
 
With the Spartans holding an 8-5 advantage over the Eagles, CSU posted a 7-1 run to take the lead and keep it for the remainder of the third set. However, UNCG held the Eagles at set point for three rallies, but CSU eventually came away with the third set (25-22) due to a kill from Ammaarah Williams.
 
With CSU up 2-1 in the match, the Spartans fought back early on in set four with a 6-2 run that was ended by a service ace from Izora Gragg to start things off. However, with UNCG up 10-9 in set four, the Eagles produced a 5-0 run to earn the lead and hold it for the rest of set four. A final kill from CSU's TaKenya Stafford, followed by an attack error from Mallory Meers, gave the Eagles the final set (25-21) for the win.
 
BY THE NUMBERS (CSU)

• Baran led the Spartans offensively by recording a new game high of 14 kills and added 13 digs.
• Jackson followed closely behind with 11 kills and led the team with 4.0 total blocks.
• Timmerman, Avery Sziksai and Meers posted five service aces collectively.
• Meers led the team as the setter with 24 assists.
• Wood led UNCG as the libero with 26 digs.
• The Eagles and Spartans tied at 51 kills.
• UNCG had 63 points to Coppin State's 61.

HOW IT HAPPENED (Marshall)
The Herd gained a quick advantage over UNCG in set one by coming out with a 7-0 run to never allow the Spartans to lead in set one. A final kill form Marshall's Brynn Brown gave The Herd set one, 25-9.
 
A service ace from Meers to start the second set gave the Spartans its first lead of the match. Set two continued to go back-and-forth early on. However, with the game tied at six, The Herd notched a 5-1 run that was all brought on by kills from the Marshall squad. Marshall held this lead for the rest of second set. A kill from Marshall's Essence Clerkley, followed by a service ace from Sarah Wadsworth, gave Marshall set two, 25-17.
 
The Spartans found its stride in the midst of set three. With UNCG down 3-10, the squad recorded a 9-1 run that started with a kill from Timmerman and gave the Spartans the one-point lead (12-11). The remainder of set three continued to see various tied scores and lead changes from the two teams. With UNCG down 20-23 in the third game, the team tallied a 5-0 run that was ended by a kill from Jackson to earn set three, 25-23.
 
A kill from Jackson got UNCG on the board first in the fourth set. However, The Herd responded by taking the lead and holding it for the rest of the match. A service ace from Marshall's Sarah Wadsworth secured the fourth and final set to The Herd, 25-20.
 
BY THE NUMBERS (Marshall)

• Baran led the Spartans with 10 kills.
• Timmerman led the team by matching her game high of four service aces.
• Baran notched her first collegiate service ace against The Herd.
• Gragg led the team as the setter with 15 assists.
• Meers followed closely behind with 14 assists.
• Wood led the Spartans with 11 digs.

Records
UNCG: 0-5, 0-0, SoCon
Coppin State: 4-1, 0-0, MEAC
Marshall: 3-2, 0-0, SBC

Up Next
The Spartans will conclude its time at the Marshall Invitational on Saturday, September 2 by facing Akron at 3 p.m.