University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
UNC Asheville
3-4,0-0Big South
South Carolina State
0-4,0-0MEAC
Volleyball splits pair of matches on final day of UNCG tournament
09.03.2022 | Women's Volleyball
GREENSBORO, N.C. - The UNC Asheville volleyball team split a pair of matches Saturday on the final day of the "Tussle in the Triad" tournament. The Bulldogs downed South Carolina State 3-0 in their first match (25-11, 25-13, 25-16) but dropped its match vs. UNC Greensboro later in the day in three sets (25-17, 25-20, 25-20). After this weekend's tournament, the Bulldogs move forward with a 3-5 record.
South Carolina State Recap - Asheville was thoroughly dominant in their first match against South Carolina State, winning each set by at least nine points. In the first set, the Bulldogs scored 11 points before South Carolina State scored their first and held them to a .054 hitting percentage for the entire match.Â
Kat Cruser led the way again for the Bulldogs, earning a double-double with 11 kills and 11 digs with a .435 hitting percentage, along with three service aces. Ona Elkins also had stellar performance, leading the team with 20 assists, and allowing the Bulldogs to be efficient on offense with four of her teammates earning a hitting percentage above .300.Â
UNC Greensboro Recap - In Asheville's second match on the day, it was the Spartans who jumped out to an early lead and held onto it the entire first set despite some attempts from the Bulldogs to bridge the gap. Asheville kept the second set closer but was unable to overcome the Spartan defense. The third set proved to be the closest of the match, with six lead changes and 10 ties between the two teams. The third set was wrapped by a five-point run by UNCG, however, to seal the match.Â
Freshman Avery Loeback was the bright spot for the Bulldogs in this set, being the most effective against the UNCG defense with a team- leading eight kills, which was a new career-high.Â
Next Up - The Bulldogs will return to Asheville on Wednesday as they take on Chattanooga in the Justice Center at 6 p.m. on ESPN+.
Â
