University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Volleyball Can Clinch Big South Regular-Season Title This Weekend
11.12.2009 | Women's Volleyball
ASHEVILLE, N.C. - The UNC Asheville volleyball team ends the regular season at home this weekend with two Big South Conference matches and a chance to accomplish something very special. The Bulldogs host Coastal Carolina Friday evening at Justice Center starting at 7 p.m. and then close out the regular season with a match against Winthrop Saturday at 2 p.m. Both matches can be seen via video-streaming for a small fee at www.bigsouthsports.com.
The Bulldogs (23-8, 12-2 BSC) can clinch the top seed to next weekend's Big South Conference Tournament with one victory. They would be the undisputed regular-season champions with two victories. Asheville can also get the top seed with a Liberty loss at Charleston Southern on Saturday night. The Bulldogs are in first place in the league standings at 12-2 with the Flames behind them at 12-3. Winthrop is in third place at 10-4.
Julie Torbett's team is in this position because of a great week on the road last week. The Bulldogs picked up three conference road wins a week ago. Asheville defeated Gardner-Webb in four sets on Nov. 3 and then downed Liberty in a first-place battle Friday night in Lynchburg in four sets. They finished the week off with a tough four-set win at High Point Saturday afternoon.
"It was quite a week for our team," commented Torbett. "Each match was a tough challenge, and our girls found a way to win each and every time. The victory at Liberty was really great because it's been a few years since we won there, and they are the defending champions.
"We finished the weekend off with a big win at High Point," added Torbett. "It was High Point's Senior Day, and they played very well. We made a great comeback in game three (down 24-21 and won 26-24) and that was able to get us into the position we're in right now."
Kelsey Benorden enjoyed two great matches at Liberty and High Point. She had a season-high 25 kills against the Flames and added 15 digs. At High Point, Benorden knocked down 20 kills and had 28 digs. For her efforts, she was named Big South Player of the Week and National Player of the Week by Collegiate Volleyball Update.
"We had a great team effort last weekend but Kelsey was sensational," explained Torbett.
The Bulldogs played well last week but are going to have two more stiff challenges this weekend with Coastal Carolina and Winthrop. The Chanticleers edged the Bulldogs in five sets for Asheville's first league loss in October. The Bulldogs downed Winthrop in Rock Hill last month but the Eagles have played very well since that loss.
"If we finish first, we're going to definitely earn it this weekend," explained Torbett. "Both Coastal Carolina and Winthrop are excellent teams who are well-coached and will be ready to play."
