University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Friday, March 12
Asheville, N.C.
3 p.m.
UNC Asheville
6-5,6-5Big South
3
vs
2
Radford
3-7,3-7Big South
1
2
3
4
5
F
Radford
24
22
25
25
10
2
UNC Asheville
26
25
18
21
15
3
Photo by: Mark Godin
Bulldogs Outlast Radford in a Five-Set Battle
03.12.2021 | Women's Volleyball
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – The UNC Asheville volleyball team picked up its second straight five-set (26-24, 25-22, 18-25, 21-25, 15-10) victory over Radford Friday afternoon at the Justice Center. The win boosts Asheville's record back to the .500 mark this spring to 6-6.
Stat Standouts – Peyton McClinton notched her second consecutive 20-kill outing to help led the Bulldogs to their second straight victory. McClinton finished the match with 23 kills (.321 hitting percentage) to go with 11 digs. The tandem of Hannah Spicer (11 kills) and Molly Hackett (nine kills) also had stellar offensive matches. Setting up these attackers was mainly Grace Volk, who finished with 44 assists and 11 digs. Kasey West was once again stellar on the Bulldog backline with a team-high 14 digs, while Lexy Cole led the way up front with five block assists.
Set 1 – After dropping the match Thursday to the Bulldogs, Radford came out ready to play on Friday. The Highlanders led Asheville by as many as 10 points, 16-6, in the opening frame. Asheville, however, did not give up as it rallied back to tie the score at 24. An ace from Anna Skryd and a Spicer kill on the following two points gave the first set to the Bulldogs, 26-24.
Set 2 – Neither team created much separation early in the second frame as the score was tied at six different points. The set's turning point seemed to happen near the middle of the stanza when the Highlander offense misfired several times. Overall, the Highlanders committed nine attack errors, two setting miscues to go with a pair of errors on the serve. Asheville took full advantage of these Radford mistakes to take the second frame, 25-22.
Set 3 – Facing a three-set defeat, Radford put together its best set of the match to that point in the third. The Highlanders cut out most of the mistakes that plagued them in the second, and it showed on the scoreboard. Radford attacked at a .324 clip in the frame while holding Asheville to .188. The hot-hitting Highlanders stayed alive, winning the third, 25-22.
Set 4 – With the score tied at six, Radford rattled off four straight points to seize the momentum. Asheville took a timeout to regroup, but the Highlander lead never shrunk smaller than four as it went on to take the fourth, 25-21, to force the match-deciding fifth set.
Set 5 – Asheville saved its best for last in the fifth. The Bulldogs posted a .529 attack percentage on 15 attempts with 10 kills and just one error. McClinton was especially good collected five kills on nine attempts. In the final two sets, McClinton posted 10 kills on 19 attempts with no errors. Thanks to McClinton and the rest of the Bulldogs, Asheville was able to seal the victory, 15-10.
Note from Coach – "Just amazing," Head Coach Frederico Santos said after the victory. "We started fast, but they were able to recover and put a furious charge winning the next two. The fifth set was a near perfect performance for us, giving us the victory! Again, I thank all our parents and family for coming and supporting us. It was amazing."
Next Up – Asheville will return to action next Thursday and Friday when it visits USC Upstate for a pair of matches. These two contests will conclude the Bulldogs' road schedule for this season. Both matches between the Bulldogs and Spartans are scheduled to begin at 6 p.m.
Stat Standouts – Peyton McClinton notched her second consecutive 20-kill outing to help led the Bulldogs to their second straight victory. McClinton finished the match with 23 kills (.321 hitting percentage) to go with 11 digs. The tandem of Hannah Spicer (11 kills) and Molly Hackett (nine kills) also had stellar offensive matches. Setting up these attackers was mainly Grace Volk, who finished with 44 assists and 11 digs. Kasey West was once again stellar on the Bulldog backline with a team-high 14 digs, while Lexy Cole led the way up front with five block assists.
Set 1 – After dropping the match Thursday to the Bulldogs, Radford came out ready to play on Friday. The Highlanders led Asheville by as many as 10 points, 16-6, in the opening frame. Asheville, however, did not give up as it rallied back to tie the score at 24. An ace from Anna Skryd and a Spicer kill on the following two points gave the first set to the Bulldogs, 26-24.
Set 2 – Neither team created much separation early in the second frame as the score was tied at six different points. The set's turning point seemed to happen near the middle of the stanza when the Highlander offense misfired several times. Overall, the Highlanders committed nine attack errors, two setting miscues to go with a pair of errors on the serve. Asheville took full advantage of these Radford mistakes to take the second frame, 25-22.
Set 3 – Facing a three-set defeat, Radford put together its best set of the match to that point in the third. The Highlanders cut out most of the mistakes that plagued them in the second, and it showed on the scoreboard. Radford attacked at a .324 clip in the frame while holding Asheville to .188. The hot-hitting Highlanders stayed alive, winning the third, 25-22.
Set 4 – With the score tied at six, Radford rattled off four straight points to seize the momentum. Asheville took a timeout to regroup, but the Highlander lead never shrunk smaller than four as it went on to take the fourth, 25-21, to force the match-deciding fifth set.
Set 5 – Asheville saved its best for last in the fifth. The Bulldogs posted a .529 attack percentage on 15 attempts with 10 kills and just one error. McClinton was especially good collected five kills on nine attempts. In the final two sets, McClinton posted 10 kills on 19 attempts with no errors. Thanks to McClinton and the rest of the Bulldogs, Asheville was able to seal the victory, 15-10.
Note from Coach – "Just amazing," Head Coach Frederico Santos said after the victory. "We started fast, but they were able to recover and put a furious charge winning the next two. The fifth set was a near perfect performance for us, giving us the victory! Again, I thank all our parents and family for coming and supporting us. It was amazing."
Next Up – Asheville will return to action next Thursday and Friday when it visits USC Upstate for a pair of matches. These two contests will conclude the Bulldogs' road schedule for this season. Both matches between the Bulldogs and Spartans are scheduled to begin at 6 p.m.
Team Stats
Rad
UNC-A
Kills
72
56
Errors
28
22
Attempts
174
165
Hitting %
.253
.206
Points
85
70
Assists
70
51
Aces
4
7
Blocks
9
7
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
23
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Kills
11
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Kills
9
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Players Mentioned
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
DS
/ Women's Volleyball
RS
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's Volleyball
DS/L
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