University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
UNC Asheville Volleyball Battles Winthrop Friday Night - UNC Asheville Bulldogs Official Athletics Site
01.01.1970 | Women's Volleyball
Oct. 19, 2006
ASHEVILLE, N.C. - The UNC Asheville volleyball team will be at home Friday night in a battle for first place with defending Big South Conference champion Winthrop at Justice Center starting at 7 p.m. Admission is $3.
The Bulldogs (8-13, 6-1 BSC) have made an amazing recovery from a 2-12 start and are in second place in the league, one game behind the Lady Eagles (23-2, 7-0 BSC). Asheville faces a tall task Friday night as Winthrop enters the match with a 44-game winning streak in BSC play. The Lady Eagles have not lost a league match since the 2003 season. The teams played back on Oct. 6 with Winthrop winning in three games.
"I think we've improved since our match with Winthrop two weeks ago but we're going to have be at our very best to have a chance on Friday," stated Asheville coach Julie Torbett. "Winthrop is very good in all areas of the game. They have a balanced attack and you can't focus on one player with them. They've been excellent in league play but have some great non-conference wins, as well."
The Bulldogs have won of their last seven matches since starting the season 2-12. Asheville hosts High Point on Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m.
"I'm really proud of the way this team has played throughout the year and gotten better and better," added Torbett. "Some teams would have folded up after the start we had but this team has kept working and improving. We're still a young team with eight freshmen but those freshmen are starting to become sophomores."
Asheville is being led by senior outside hitter Elif Unlu. Unlu was the Preseason Big South Conference Player of the Year and she's having a great year. Unlu has 19 double-doubles on the year and tops the club in kills with a 4.22 mark. Freshman libero Raquel Miotto is doing the job on defense with by averaging 5.42 digs per game.
