University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Friday, September 24
Asheville, N.C.
6 p.m.
UNC Asheville
2-8,0-1Big South
2
vs
3
North Carolina A&T
9-4,1-0Big South
1
2
3
4
5
F
N.C. A&T
25
23
25
20
15
3
UNC Asheville
14
25
23
25
13
2
Bulldogs battle but ultimately fall to North Carolina A&T in five sets
09.24.2021 | Women's Volleyball
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Playing in front of its home fans for the first time since 2019, the UNC Asheville volleyball team battled hard but ultimately fell in five sets (25-14, 23-25, 25-23, 20-25, 15-13) to North Carolina A&T Friday evening at the Justice Center.
Stat Standouts – The Bulldogs had several players with stellar statistical performances. Molly Hackett led all players with 19 kills to go with 11 digs in the five-set affair. Lexy Cole registered a career-high 16 kills and attacked at a .406 clip against the Aggies. Peyton McClinton also finished the night with a double-double (12 kills, 12 digs), while the tandem of Brandy Kishbaugh (13 digs) and Anna Skryd (11 digs) both finished the night with double-digit dig totals.
Set 1 – The opening frame began with quite a few tied scores, including at 8-8. However, the Aggies went on a 4-0 run to vault out in front 12-8. A&T would follow that by scoring six of the next eight points to build its lead further. Asheville called a pair of timeouts to throw off A&T's momentum, but the latter stayed the course on its way to taking the first frame, 25-14.
Set 2 – Asheville answered back nicely in the second set. Eight of the first 10 points went to the Bulldogs to build a sizable lead. Credit to the Aggies, though, as they battled nearly all the way back to make the score, 24-23. Fortunately for the Bulldogs, Hackett notched one of her 19 kills in the match to finish off the 25-23 set win.
Set 3 – There was no shortage of offense in the third frame. A&T attacked at a .432 clip with 19 kills, while the Bulldogs hit a stellar .353 with 14 kills. With both offenses clicking so well, the score was tied on seven different occasions, and there were two lead changes. It looked like Asheville was going to take its second straight set, but the Aggies proved to have the last word clinching the third frame, 25-23.
Set 4 – Facing a four-set defeat, the Bulldogs kept at it in the fourth. Behind seven kills from Hackett along with four kills each from Cole and McClinton, the Bulldogs were able to stay in front of the Aggies for pretty much the entire frame on their way to forcing a fifth set, 25-20.
Set 5 – Playing in its second five-set match of the season, the Bulldogs matched the Aggies point for point early. A 4-1 run by A&T, however, put the pressure on the Bulldogs as they trailed 11-8. Following a timeout, Asheville rallied to get the score to 13-12, but the Aggies scored two of the next three points to finish off an exciting five-set victory, 15-13.
Note from Coach – "The atmosphere was electric tonight, and our girls played great," said Head Coach Frederico Santos. "It was so close in the end, and the small details make a big difference. We have to be very proud of this performance and keep working because we will get there. A huge thanks to the track & field team, the ultimate guys, and all our fans and friends who came. Means the world to us."
Next Up – Asheville will have a quick turnaround as it welcomes High Point to the Justice Center for another Big South contest on Saturday. The first serve between the Panthers and Bulldogs is set for 2 p.m. on ESPN+.
Stat Standouts – The Bulldogs had several players with stellar statistical performances. Molly Hackett led all players with 19 kills to go with 11 digs in the five-set affair. Lexy Cole registered a career-high 16 kills and attacked at a .406 clip against the Aggies. Peyton McClinton also finished the night with a double-double (12 kills, 12 digs), while the tandem of Brandy Kishbaugh (13 digs) and Anna Skryd (11 digs) both finished the night with double-digit dig totals.
Set 1 – The opening frame began with quite a few tied scores, including at 8-8. However, the Aggies went on a 4-0 run to vault out in front 12-8. A&T would follow that by scoring six of the next eight points to build its lead further. Asheville called a pair of timeouts to throw off A&T's momentum, but the latter stayed the course on its way to taking the first frame, 25-14.
Set 2 – Asheville answered back nicely in the second set. Eight of the first 10 points went to the Bulldogs to build a sizable lead. Credit to the Aggies, though, as they battled nearly all the way back to make the score, 24-23. Fortunately for the Bulldogs, Hackett notched one of her 19 kills in the match to finish off the 25-23 set win.
Set 3 – There was no shortage of offense in the third frame. A&T attacked at a .432 clip with 19 kills, while the Bulldogs hit a stellar .353 with 14 kills. With both offenses clicking so well, the score was tied on seven different occasions, and there were two lead changes. It looked like Asheville was going to take its second straight set, but the Aggies proved to have the last word clinching the third frame, 25-23.
Set 4 – Facing a four-set defeat, the Bulldogs kept at it in the fourth. Behind seven kills from Hackett along with four kills each from Cole and McClinton, the Bulldogs were able to stay in front of the Aggies for pretty much the entire frame on their way to forcing a fifth set, 25-20.
Set 5 – Playing in its second five-set match of the season, the Bulldogs matched the Aggies point for point early. A 4-1 run by A&T, however, put the pressure on the Bulldogs as they trailed 11-8. Following a timeout, Asheville rallied to get the score to 13-12, but the Aggies scored two of the next three points to finish off an exciting five-set victory, 15-13.
Note from Coach – "The atmosphere was electric tonight, and our girls played great," said Head Coach Frederico Santos. "It was so close in the end, and the small details make a big difference. We have to be very proud of this performance and keep working because we will get there. A huge thanks to the track & field team, the ultimate guys, and all our fans and friends who came. Means the world to us."
Next Up – Asheville will have a quick turnaround as it welcomes High Point to the Justice Center for another Big South contest on Saturday. The first serve between the Panthers and Bulldogs is set for 2 p.m. on ESPN+.
Team Stats
NCA&T
UNC-A
Kills
62
58
Errors
20
22
Attempts
147
154
Hitting %
.286
.234
Points
80
75
Assists
55
57
Aces
8
10
Blocks
10
7
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
19
Aces
0
Blocks
0
Kills
12
Aces
2
Blocks
1
Kills
9
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Players Mentioned
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's Volleyball
DS
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