Bulldogs Open Tournament with Victory over New Orleans

THE RUNDOWN

Score: Asheville 3 – New Orleans 1

Teams: Asheville (3-3, 0-0 BSC)

New Orleans (3-4, 0-0 Southland)

Location: Justice Center/UNC Asheville Invitational, Asheville, N.C.

ASHEVILLE, N.C. – The UNC Asheville volleyball team opened up its three day tournament with a 3-1 victory over the University of New Orleans on Thursday night. The Bulldogs took the opening two sets on the way to the victory.

THE TURNING POINT

Asheville used a huge kill by Shelby Erikson to cap the match off and take the fourth set, 28-26. The set and match winner halted New Orleans, who had taken the third set and were on a 6-1 run late in the fourth set before the Bulldogs used an attacking error and Erickson's kill to cap the night off.

NOTABLES

-Asheville did not have a single player record double-digit kills in the win, but five of the eight Bulldogs who recorded a kill finished with seven or more kills.

-Two Bulldogs finished with double-digit assists in the win – Amanda Powers (24) and Katie Davis (14).

- Bryn Pfeiffer had a match-high 20 digs in the victory.

-The Bulldogs are now 1-0 all-time against New Orleans.

-Two of Asheville's three wins this season have now been four-set matches. The Bulldogs like to get out in front early, now having won seven of their 10 total sets in either the first or second sets of matches.

QUOTABLES

“Fantastic win for us tonight and a great way to open our home tournament. We were able to regain control at the end and make great plays to finish the match out. A big thanks to all our fans who came out tonight.” - Head Coach Frederico Santos

UP NEXT

-Following tonight's victory, the Bulldogs continue the UNC Asheville Invitational Friday night against The Citadel (7:00 p.m.) and will have matches at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday. Full tournament action begins with three matches Friday (2:00 p.m., 4:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.).