Box Score GREENSBORO, N.C. – The UNC Greensboro (UNCG) volleyball team fell in its home opener to Charlotte on Friday night in a five-set thriller (15-25, 25-23, 26-24, 17-25, 6-15).

HOW IT HAPPENED
Game one went back-and-forth early on seeing four ties and four lead changes. With UNCG down 5-9, a service error from Charlotte's Esten Clay sparked a 5-0 run for the Spartans to take a 10-9 lead. However, the Niners responded with a 3-0 run to take the lead and maintain control for the remainder of set one. A kill from Jessica Ricks started a 5-0 run for Charlotte for the squad to claim set one, 25-15.
 
Charlotte's Ricks launched a kill to start a 4-0 run for the Niners in set two.  However, the UNCG squad chipped away to earn its way back into set two. A 4-0 run from the Spartans, ending with a service ace form Valeria Calderon tied up game two at 10. Both teams continued to battle throughout the remainder of set two. With a tied score at 21, UNCG came up with four big points to top the Niners including two kills from Carter and one from Baran.
 
The Spartans continued its momentum into set three. The third set was very similar to the second with both teams going back-and-forth. With the Niners up 23-22, a kill and service ace from Baran put the Spartans by one. However, a kill from the Niners' Annika Wetterstrom tied the game at 24 to push extra rallies in set two. The Spartans sealed the extended set three (26-24) with a kill from Carter and an attack error from Charlotte.
 
In set four, UNCG kicked off the frame with a big block from Izora Gragg and Timmerman and later a kill from Carter for a 2-1 advantage. However, the Niners responded with a 5-0 run to take the lead and maintain it for the remainder of the fourth set. Back-to-back kills form the Niners gave the squad the fourth set, 25-17.
 
Charlotte earned the first point of the final set and never allowed the Spartans to lead in set five. One last kill from Annika Thompson gave the Niners set five, 15-6.

BY THE NUMBERS

• Baran led both teams with 20 kills to mark the first time since the 2021 season that a Spartan had 20 or more kills in a match. Kayla White had 20 or more kills three times that year (25 at Furman 10/9, 22 Western Carolina 10/13, and 24 vs. The Citadel 10/15).
• Izora Gragg and Mallory Meers tag teamed as setters notching 34 assists collectively.
• Calderon led the squad with three service aces and added 14 digs. 
• Mya Wood led the team as the libero with 16 digs.
• Madeline Timmerman posted 6.0 solo blocks in the match.

Records
UNCG: 1-9, 0-0, SoCon
Charlotte: 6-5, 0-0, American

Up Next
UNCG will conclude the Spartan Tri-Match on Saturday, Sept. 16 by taking on UNC Asheville at 6:30 p.m.