JOHNSON CITY, TENN. – The UNC Greensboro (UNCG) volleyball team dropped The Southern Conference (SoCon) opener at ETSU Thursday night, 3-1 (24-26, 25-20, 20-25, 23-25) in Brooks Gymnasium.
 
Thursday marks the first time the Spartans have collected a true road set this season as all other away wins have come in neutral site matches.

HOW IT HAPPENED
A kill from Allie Sweet gave UNCG the first advantage of the match. Later with UNCG down 7-9, a kill from America Anderson, set by Izora Gragg began a 5-0 run for the Spartans to take a 12-9 lead over ETSU. The Spartans held the lead until ETSU chipped away to take the 22-21 advantage. The remainder of the first set would go back-and-forth until ETSU was finally able to claim the extended set, 26-24.  
 
Anderson put UNCG on the board first in the second set, but ETSU came back later to take a 10-6 lead over the Blue & Gold. With UNCG down 8-12, the Spartans notched a 9-2 run to post a 17-14 lead over the Bucs. UNCG held its lead for the remainder of game two, claiming it 25-20.
 
A kill from Anderson and a service ace from Chloe Nussbaum gave UNCG the 2-1 lead in game three. The Spartans held the lead until late when ETSU picked up a 16-15 advantage. With the game tied at 18, the Bucs were able to close out the third set with a 7-2 run to earn it, 25-20.
 
A solo block from Sweet, followed by a block assist from Anderson and Gragg put the Blue & Gold up 2-0 in set four. The Spartans continued to hold their lead until the Bucs sparked a 7-0 run for the 14-9 lead. With ETSU up 17-15, kills from Madeline Timmerman, Sweet and McKenna Timmerman put UNCG back on top 18-17 to turn the remainder of the fourth game into a battle. However, with the Spartans up 23-22, the Bucs recorded a 3-0 run to claim the fourth and final set, 25-23 for the 3-1 win.


BY THE NUMBERS

• McKenna posted her first double-double of the season with 13 kills and 15 digs.
• Mya Wood followed closely behind with 13 digs.
• Sweet led the match with 19 kills.
• Gragg paced both teams as the setter with 41 assists.
• Nussbaum led UNCG with two service aces.
• Madeline led the Spartans with six total blocks.

 
RECORDS
UNCG: 5-8, 0-1 SoCon
ETSU: 9-4, 1-0 Socon

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UP NEXT
The Spartans will open their SoCon home schedule by hosting Furman on Saturday, Sept. 28 at 5:00 p.m. in Fleming Gym.
 
The matchup against the Paladins will be a military appreciation game.  In addition, the first 60 fans in attendance will receive a FREE Krispy Kreme donut! All regular season home games are free admission.