GREENSBORO, N.C. –  The UNC Greensboro (UNCG) volleyball team will begin The Southern Conference (SoCon) campaign by hosting Furman and Samford on Thursday and Friday, respectively in Fleming Gymnasium. Both matches are set for a 6:00 p.m. start.
 

Who: Furman When: Thursday, Sept. 25 Where: Greensboro, N.C. | Fleming Gym Time: 6:00 p.m. Promotion: First 60 UNCG students receive a FREE Krispy Kreme Doughnut! | Professor Appreciation! Live Stats | ESPN+

Who: Samford When: Friday, Sept. 26 Where: Greensboro, N.C. | Fleming Gym Time: 6:00 p.m. Promotion: First 60 UNCG students receive FREE Domino's Pizza! Live Stats

 
LAST TIME OUT FOR THE SPARTANS

• UNCG concluded the non-conference campaign going 2-0 last weekend hosting the Battle of North Carolina.
• The Spartans earned a straight-set victory over North Carolina A&T on Friday night before returning to the court on Saturday to claim a reverse sweep over UNC Asheville.
• The last time UNCG claimed a reverse sweep was in the 2021 season with a win over North Carolina Central in Greensboro.
• Gabby Seeds was the leading setter for the Spartans last week with 79 assists and averaging 9.88 assists per set in eights sets played. With her 41 assists against UNC Asheville on Saturday night, Seeds reached the 1,000 career assist milestone.
• McKenna Timmerman led the Spartans offensively last week, capturing a .306 hitting percentage with 29 kills. In eights played, Timmerman averaged 3.63 kills per set.
• Siena Smiejek stood out for the Spartans defensively with 12.0 total blocks, averaging 1.50 blocks per set in eight sets played.

ABOUT THE SPARTANS

• UNCG concluded the non-conference campaign at 7-4 overall, sitting at second place in the SoCon standings. The last time the Spartans captured seven or more wins in a non-conference slate was in the 2021 season, going 11-2.
• The Spartans remain undefeated at home at 5-0. The last time UNCG started off 5-0 at home was also in the 2021 season.
• UNCG stands out in top-50 nationally in three statistical categories: digs per set (24^th/16.20), digs (42^nd/713) and opponent hitting percentage (47^th/.166).
• The squad is pacing the SoCon in four categories: assists per set (11.98), digs per set (16.20), opponent hitting percentage (.166) and digs (713).
• Allie Sweet is currently ranked in the top-20 nationally among six statistical categories: attacks per set (1^st/12.91), total attacks (5^th/568), total kills (10^th/202), points (11^th/227.0), points per set (17^th/5.28) and kills per set (19^th/4.59)
• Sweet is leading the SoCon in attacks per set (12.91), kills per set (4.59), points (227.0), points per set (5.16), total attacks (568), and total kills (202).
• Chloe Nussbaum stands out nationally at 16^th in digs per set (5.00) and 22^nd in total digs (220).
• Nussbaum is pacing the league with 220 digs and a 5.00 digs per set average.
• Seeds is second in the conference with a 9.74 assists per set average.
• Sweet was named SoCon Offensive Player of the Week for the second time this season and fourth time in her career on Sept. 25.
• Sweet was named SoCon Offensive Player of the Week, while Nussbaum earned SoCon Defensive Player of the Week in the first round of SoCon weekly awards for the 2025 season on Sept. 1.
• The 2025 squad features 10 returners and six newcomers. Out of the six newcomers four are transfer students and two are freshmen.
• UNCG was picked to finish the SoCon regular season in a tie for fifth place with Chattanooga.
• Sweet was selected to the SoCon Preseason All-Conference Team.
• Sweet's preseason nod comes after being named SoCon Freshman of the Year, while also being voted to the All-SoCon First Team and All-Freshman Team last season.

SCOUTING FURMAN

• The Paladins come to Greensboro on Thursday after achieving the best non-conference record in the SoCon this season, going 9-3.
• Furman most recently earned a 3-0 win over Maryland Eastern Shore on Friday and a 3-2 win over Ohio on Saturday at the Charlotte Invitational.
• The Paladins are leading the SoCon in blocks per set (2.39), kills per set (12.85), assists (550), kills (591), total attacks (1,636) and total blocks (110.0).
• The team's 110.0 total blocks this season puts them at 36^th nationally.
• Ashtan Dodson is the best server on the team, pacing the SoCon with a 0.47 aces per set average.
• Tennyson Goman paces the league with 55 total blocks and a .414 hitting percentage this season.
• Emily Navarro is the leading setter on the team with 258 assists.
• Kennedy Seekford stands out defensively with 195 digs.
• Furman was picked to finish fourth in the SoCon Volleyball Preseason Coaches' Poll with one first-place vote.
• Izzy Castelloe was named to the SoCon Preseason All-Conference Team.
• Furman will return to Greenville on Saturday to host Samford at 4:00 p.m.

SERIES HISTORY VS FURMAN
The Paladins lead in the overall series against the Spartans at 43-16. Furman claimed both regular season matches against UNCG last season with a 3-2 win in Greensboro on Sept. 28, 2024, followed by a sweep in Greenville on Oct. 24, 2024.

SCOUTING SAMFORD

• Samford had the fifth best finish in the 2025 non-conference slate in the SoCon at 5-6 overall.
• The Bulldogs currently have the best team hitting percentage in the SoCon with a .224 average.
• Kaleigh Meritt was named SoCon Offensive Player of the Week on Sept. 8. Meritt is the leading hitter with 161 kills this season.
• Shea Bruntmyer has earned back-to-back SoCon Setter of the Week recognitions on Sept. 15 and Sept. 22.
• She paces the team with 372 assists this season.
• Ally Cordes and Meritt lead the team with 105 and 103 digs, respectively.
• Greer Golden is the leading middle blocker on the squad with 26.0 total blocks.
• Samford was picked to finish second in the 2025 SoCon Preseason Coaches' Poll with three votes for first place.
• Meritt was named to the SoCon Preseason All-Conference Team.

SERIES HISTORY VS SAMFORD
The Bulldogs lead the Spartans in the all-time series at 24-10. UNCG went 1-1 against Samford last season with a 3-1 win over the Bulldogs on Oct. 19, 2024, in Greensboro, but failing 3-2 in Birmingham on Nov. 15, 2024.

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UP NEXT
The Spartans will begin the SoCon road schedule next week at Chattanooga on Friday, Oct. 3 at 6:00 p.m. and conclude the weekend at Western Carolina on Saturday, Oct. 4 at 5:00 p.m. in Cullowhee, North Carolina.