University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Saturday, October 9
Asheville, N.C.
2 p.m.
UNC Asheville
4-11,2-4Big South
1
vs
3
Winthrop
10-6,5-1Big South
1
2
3
4
F
Winthrop
25
25
14
25
3
UNC Asheville
16
14
25
14
1
Winthrop outlasts Asheville in four sets
10.09.2021 | Women's Volleyball
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – The UNC Asheville volleyball team saw its two-match winning streak end Saturday afternoon as Winthrop upended the Bulldogs in four sets (25-16, 25-14, 14-25, 25-14).
Stat Standouts – A bright spot for the Bulldogs Saturday was the play of sophomore Kat Cruser. Cruser totaled a career-high 12 kills (.435 hitting percentage) to pace the Asheville offense. Lexy Cole also had a solid day chipping in eight kills along with a team-high four block assists. Grace Volk picked up her third double-double of the season with 31 assists and 10 digs. Finally, Brandy Kishbaugh matched her career-high with 16 digs to pace the defense. Kishbaugh has now recorded double-digit dig totals in six straight matches.
Set 1 – Asheville and Winthrop both jostled for control early on as the score was tied on eight different points. The last of these ties happened after an Eagle block made the score 12-12. Following that block, Winthrop scored the next three points to gain the first sizable separation of the contest. Cole notched one of her eight kills to make it 17-15 Winthrop before the Eagles closed the set on an 8-1 run to finish off the opening stanza, 25-16.
Set 2 – Perhaps riding the momentum of taking the first set, Winthrop put together its best offensive performance in the second. The Eagle offense racked up 16 kills on 31 attempts with just two errors (.452 hitting percentage) to go with a pair of aces and two blocks as well. With Winthrop clicking in a variety of areas, it went on to take the second frame, 25-14.
Set 3 – Facing a possible three-set defeat on its home floor, the Bulldogs responded with a big answer in the third. Collectively, Asheville hit .500 with 13 kills on 24 tries to jump on the Eagles early and often. Key in this offensive outburst was the trio of Cruser, Cole, and Molly Hackett. These three players combined for 11 kills on 15 tries with no errors. Winthrop had no answer to the three-headed attack from Asheville as the latter took the third, 25-14, to force a fourth set.
Set 4 – The Eagles came back for the fourth set with a renewed focus. Winthrop returned to its efficient offense (15 kills, .314 hitting percentage) to build an early five-point lead on the Bulldogs, 14-9. The Eagles' advantage grew to as many as 12 points before they eventually took the fourth to finish off the match, 25-14.
Note from Coach – "We got off to a slow start in today and were playing catch-up the whole match," said Head Coach Frederico Santos. "The third set was a good display of what we can do when we get going, but in the fourth set, we started making some unforced errors, and they seized the advantage again. Now, we have to focus on our next opponents and give our all."
Next Up – Asheville will have a quick turnaround as it will return to action on Tuesday when it makes the short trip to USC Upstate. The start time for that match is scheduled for 6 p.m.
Stat Standouts – A bright spot for the Bulldogs Saturday was the play of sophomore Kat Cruser. Cruser totaled a career-high 12 kills (.435 hitting percentage) to pace the Asheville offense. Lexy Cole also had a solid day chipping in eight kills along with a team-high four block assists. Grace Volk picked up her third double-double of the season with 31 assists and 10 digs. Finally, Brandy Kishbaugh matched her career-high with 16 digs to pace the defense. Kishbaugh has now recorded double-digit dig totals in six straight matches.
Set 1 – Asheville and Winthrop both jostled for control early on as the score was tied on eight different points. The last of these ties happened after an Eagle block made the score 12-12. Following that block, Winthrop scored the next three points to gain the first sizable separation of the contest. Cole notched one of her eight kills to make it 17-15 Winthrop before the Eagles closed the set on an 8-1 run to finish off the opening stanza, 25-16.
Set 2 – Perhaps riding the momentum of taking the first set, Winthrop put together its best offensive performance in the second. The Eagle offense racked up 16 kills on 31 attempts with just two errors (.452 hitting percentage) to go with a pair of aces and two blocks as well. With Winthrop clicking in a variety of areas, it went on to take the second frame, 25-14.
Set 3 – Facing a possible three-set defeat on its home floor, the Bulldogs responded with a big answer in the third. Collectively, Asheville hit .500 with 13 kills on 24 tries to jump on the Eagles early and often. Key in this offensive outburst was the trio of Cruser, Cole, and Molly Hackett. These three players combined for 11 kills on 15 tries with no errors. Winthrop had no answer to the three-headed attack from Asheville as the latter took the third, 25-14, to force a fourth set.
Set 4 – The Eagles came back for the fourth set with a renewed focus. Winthrop returned to its efficient offense (15 kills, .314 hitting percentage) to build an early five-point lead on the Bulldogs, 14-9. The Eagles' advantage grew to as many as 12 points before they eventually took the fourth to finish off the match, 25-14.
Note from Coach – "We got off to a slow start in today and were playing catch-up the whole match," said Head Coach Frederico Santos. "The third set was a good display of what we can do when we get going, but in the fourth set, we started making some unforced errors, and they seized the advantage again. Now, we have to focus on our next opponents and give our all."
Next Up – Asheville will have a quick turnaround as it will return to action on Tuesday when it makes the short trip to USC Upstate. The start time for that match is scheduled for 6 p.m.
Team Stats
Win
UNC-A
Kills
59
41
Errors
17
17
Attempts
141
123
Hitting %
.298
.195
Points
71
51
Assists
56
39
Aces
5
4
Blocks
7
6
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
12
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Kills
9
Aces
0
Blocks
0
Kills
6
Aces
2
Blocks
2
Players Mentioned
OH
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's Volleyball
S
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