University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
UNC Asheville
7-20,1-12Big South
Gardner-Webb
14-11,8-5Big South
Asheville Falls to Gardner-Webb on Senior Day
11.04.2023 | Women's Volleyball
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – The UNC Asheville volleyball team hosted Gardner-Webb Saturday afternoon in the Justice Center and fell in three sets to the Runnin' Bulldogs (25-19, 25-20, 25-17).
Before Saturday's match, the Bulldogs honored the members of its senior class, Lexy Cole, Giulia Rodrigues, Ona Elkins, and Bahar Kurtulus.
Kylie Cackovic recorded a career-high 16 kills and finished the match with a .406 attack percentage. Kat Davis and Elkins recorded 12 and 15 assists, and Elkins and Katie Nichols led Asheville's defense with eight digs each. At the net, Baylor Herlehy finished with four blocks, one solo, and three assisted, and is now tied for first in the program for solo blocks in a season (27).
Neither team jumped out with the heavy hand as the first set featured 11 ties and eight lead changes. Asheville led 16-15 before Gardner-Webb closed the set on a 10-3 run.
In the second frame, a kill from Herlehy and a service ace from Grace Young helped Asheville take an 8-6 lead before Gardner-Webb responded with a 5-0 run. The Bulldogs battled back, tying the set at 15 and retaking the lead 17-16, following a kill from Cackovic. This would be Asheville's last lead of the set as Gardner-Webb responded with a 6-1 run. The Runnin' Bulldogs went on to win the second set 25-20.
In the final set, Gardner-Webb came out with all the momentum, as they jumped ahead 10-3. The Runnin' Bulldogs extended their lead out to double-digits (18-8) before Asheville attempted a comeback with a 6-1 run. The Bulldogs brought Gardner-Webb's lead down to five (19-14), but that was as close as Asheville would get as Gardner-Webb went on to win 25-17.
Asheville will close out the season next Saturday, Nov. 11, as they host USC Upstate in the final Ingles I-26 Rivalry game of the fall season at 6 p.m. in the Justice Center.
About Women's Athletics Presenting Partner First Bank
First Bank is the banking subsidiary of First Bancorp and is headquartered in Southern Pines, North Carolina, with total assets of approximately $12.4 billion. As a state-chartered community bank, First Bank operates 118 bank branches in North Carolina and South Carolina. Since 1935, First Bank has taken a tailored approach to banking, combining best-in-class financial solutions, helpful local expertise, and technology to manage a home or business. First Bancorp's common stock is traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol "FBNC." Visit our website at www.LocalFirstBank.com. Member FDIC, Equal Housing Lender.
