University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Saturday, October 30
Boiling Springs, NC
2 p.m.
UNC Asheville
5-16,3-9Big South
3
at
2
Gardner-Webb
7-15,4-8Big South
1
2
3
4
5
F
UNC Asheville
25
21
22
25
16
3
Gardner-Webb
19
25
25
22
14
2
Bulldogs snap skid with thrilling five-set win at Gardner-Webb
10.30.2021 | Women's Volleyball
BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – The UNC Asheville volleyball team picked up a thrilling five-set victory at Gardner-Webb (25-19, 21-25, 22-25, 25-22, 16-14) Saturday afternoon. Lexy Cole led the way for Asheville totaling a career-high 18 kills to go with a .421 hitting percentage.
Stat Standouts – In addition to Cole, the Bulldogs had several other players put together some impressive statistical performances Saturday. Peyton McClinton (14 kills, 20 digs), Molly Hackett (14 kills, 16 digs), Ona Elkins (26 assists, 13 digs), Brandy Kishbaugh (25 assists, 14 digs) all posted double-doubles in the victory, while freshman Amy Tippett posted a career-high 26 digs to lead the Bulldogs defensively.
Set 1 – In one of their best performances recently, the Bulldogs came out swinging in the opening set. Overall, Asheville racked up 15 kills and attacked the Runnin' Bulldog defense at a .317 clip. The trio of Cole, McClinton, and Hackett combined 14 kills on 30 chances with just one error in the first stanza. With the three-headed Bulldog attack working so well, Asheville went on to take the frame, 25-19.
Set 2 – After dropping the first, Gardner-Webb looked like a different team in the early stages of the second. GWU scored six of the first seven points of the set to jump out to a 6-1 lead. Asheville did battle back to get the deficit within three at 23-20 after a McClinton kill, but Gardner-Webb eventually finished off the set win, 25-21, to tie the match at one.
Set 3 – With the match tied at one, Gardner-Webb and Asheville came out with a very competitive frame in the third. The score was tied at 11 different points, and the lead changed hands on six occasions. However, the final momentum shift seemed to occur when back-to-back kills from Gardner-Webb made it 23-20. Asheville called a timeout to muster a comeback, but GWU persevered to edge the Bulldogs, 25-22, to gain its first lead of the contest.
Set 4 – Facing a four-set defeat, the Bulldogs needed to come up with some key plays to force a fifth, and they did just that. With the score tied at 16, Asheville outscored Gardner-Webb 9-6 to force the first five-set contest between the two teams since 2017. Hackett was especially key in Asheville forcing a fifth frame as she accounted for four kills down the stretch.
Set 5 – Early in the fifth, Asheville looked like it may run away with the match scoring six of the first seven points. Credit to Gardner-Webb, though, as it fought off seven set points to keep its hopes alive. However, Asheville closed it out with the 18th kill from Cole and a Runnin' Bulldog error to seal the win, 16-14.
Note from Coach - "What a fantastic match exciting to the end," said Head Coach Frederico Santos. "A lot of credit to the girls. They fought deficit after deficit in every set and believed they could do it. We are so proud of the team and the hard work they keep putting in everyday."
Next Up – Asheville will return to action next weekend when it hosts its final home matches of the season. First, the Bulldogs will host Hampton Friday at 6 p.m. before Campbell comes to town on Saturday for a match at 2 p.m.
Stat Standouts – In addition to Cole, the Bulldogs had several other players put together some impressive statistical performances Saturday. Peyton McClinton (14 kills, 20 digs), Molly Hackett (14 kills, 16 digs), Ona Elkins (26 assists, 13 digs), Brandy Kishbaugh (25 assists, 14 digs) all posted double-doubles in the victory, while freshman Amy Tippett posted a career-high 26 digs to lead the Bulldogs defensively.
Set 1 – In one of their best performances recently, the Bulldogs came out swinging in the opening set. Overall, Asheville racked up 15 kills and attacked the Runnin' Bulldog defense at a .317 clip. The trio of Cole, McClinton, and Hackett combined 14 kills on 30 chances with just one error in the first stanza. With the three-headed Bulldog attack working so well, Asheville went on to take the frame, 25-19.
Set 2 – After dropping the first, Gardner-Webb looked like a different team in the early stages of the second. GWU scored six of the first seven points of the set to jump out to a 6-1 lead. Asheville did battle back to get the deficit within three at 23-20 after a McClinton kill, but Gardner-Webb eventually finished off the set win, 25-21, to tie the match at one.
Set 3 – With the match tied at one, Gardner-Webb and Asheville came out with a very competitive frame in the third. The score was tied at 11 different points, and the lead changed hands on six occasions. However, the final momentum shift seemed to occur when back-to-back kills from Gardner-Webb made it 23-20. Asheville called a timeout to muster a comeback, but GWU persevered to edge the Bulldogs, 25-22, to gain its first lead of the contest.
Set 4 – Facing a four-set defeat, the Bulldogs needed to come up with some key plays to force a fifth, and they did just that. With the score tied at 16, Asheville outscored Gardner-Webb 9-6 to force the first five-set contest between the two teams since 2017. Hackett was especially key in Asheville forcing a fifth frame as she accounted for four kills down the stretch.
Set 5 – Early in the fifth, Asheville looked like it may run away with the match scoring six of the first seven points. Credit to Gardner-Webb, though, as it fought off seven set points to keep its hopes alive. However, Asheville closed it out with the 18th kill from Cole and a Runnin' Bulldog error to seal the win, 16-14.
Note from Coach - "What a fantastic match exciting to the end," said Head Coach Frederico Santos. "A lot of credit to the girls. They fought deficit after deficit in every set and believed they could do it. We are so proud of the team and the hard work they keep putting in everyday."
Next Up – Asheville will return to action next weekend when it hosts its final home matches of the season. First, the Bulldogs will host Hampton Friday at 6 p.m. before Campbell comes to town on Saturday for a match at 2 p.m.
Team Stats
UNC-A
GW
Kills
57
72
Errors
19
32
Attempts
197
222
Hitting %
.193
.180
Points
77
80
Assists
53
67
Aces
8
6
Blocks
12
2
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
14
Aces
2
Blocks
2
Kills
14
Aces
1
Blocks
4
Kills
5
Aces
0
Blocks
0
Players Mentioned
S
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's Volleyball
DS
/ Women's VolleyballHighlights || Volleyball || UNC Asheville vs Gardner-Webb
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