University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
UNC Asheville
8-20,2-12Big South
USC Upstate
12-14,5-9Big South
Volleyball defeats Upstate in final game of season
11.11.2023 | Women's Volleyball
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – After dropping the first set 25-18, the UNC Asheville volleyball team stormed back by earning an impressive 35-33 win in the second set, a 26-24 win in the third, and a 25-22 win in the fourth to defeat USC Upstate in the Bulldogs final game of the season Saturday night in the Justice Center.
With Saturday night's victory, Asheville and Upstate complete the fall portion of its I-26 Rivalry, and the Bulldogs lead 9-6.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Bulldogs' 35-33 set win is the highest-scoring set victory in program history. The Bulldogs held an 8-6 lead before Upstate went on a 6-0 run to jump ahead 12-8. Asheville would battle back, tying the set at four following a kill from Matilde Teixeira. Both teams would go back and forth, with Upstate jumping ahead 18-15 before three consecutive kills from Kylie Cackovic, Sydney Bradley, and Albertine van der Goot would tie the set at 18. The set would feature 14 ties and eight lead changes for the remainder of the contest, with a kill from Cackovic and an error from Upstate giving Asheville the final two points it needed to even the match 1-1.
The Spartans took an early 10-7 lead in the third set, but Asheville did not trail too far behind, as the Bulldogs never allowed Upstate to lead by more than three points. Back-to-back Upstate errors would help Asheville tie the set at 18, and a kill from Michelle Thao would spark a 5-1 run to help the Bulldogs to set point, 24-21. Thao's kill with the score tied at 20 was followed by kills from Baylor Herlehy, another from Thao, one from Teixeira, and one from Cackovic. The Spartans responded by scoring the following three points to tie the set at 24, but an attack error from Upstate, followed by a kill from Cackovic, would help Asheville earn the set's final two points and move ahead 2-1.
The Spartans looked to send the match into a fifth set as they jumped ahead 11-4 in the fourth frame. Asheville's efforts did not fall short despite Upstate's early lead, as the Bulldogs responded with a kill from van der Goot, followed by back-to-back service aces and a kill from Sydney Bradley to cut Upstate's lead down to three (11-8). The Spartans answered by extending their lead to six before the Bulldogs stormed back with a 9-2 run, taking a 19-18 lead. A kill from Thao sparked the run, and she followed with a service ace. Cackovic connected for back-to-back kills in the run, and Thao scored the Bulldogs' 18th point off a kill. Upstate took the lead once again (22-20) before Asheville closed the match out by scoring the final five points of the game. Thao and van der Goot recorded a kill apiece, with Herlehy recording back-to-back kills to help Asheville to victory.
NEW DOG ON THE BLOCK
Herlehy etched her name in the record book on Saturday, as she now holds the single-season record for most solo blocks in a season at 30. Cecilia Stack previously held the record with 27 solo blocks in 2018. Herlehy finished the night with 15 kills, a .379 hitting percentage, three solo blocks, and three block assists.
SEEING DOUBLE
Cackovic and Thao each recorded double-doubles, with Cackovic leading the team in kills with 18, and finished with 13 digs. Cackovic also led the team with three service aces. Thao recorded 10 kills and 13 digs. Ona Elkins recorded a double-double with 28 assists and a game-high 16 digs.
ROUNDING OUT THE BULLDOGS IN THE BOX
Kat Davis recorded a career-high 27 kills, with Teixeira and van der Goot nearly clinched double-figure kills as they finished with nine kills each.
Saturday's match concluded the 2023 season for the Bulldogs.
About Women's Athletics Presenting Partner First Bank
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