University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
UNC Asheville
6-9,0-2Big South
Presbyterian
4-9,2-0Big South
Bulldogs fall in four sets to Presbyterian
09.29.2023 | Women's Volleyball
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – UNC Asheville volleyball welcomed Presbyterian to town Friday night for its first Big South Conference matchup inside the Justice Center and fell to the Blue Hose in four sets (25-23, 21-25, 27-29, 16-25).
ON THE COURT
Neither team jumped out with the upper hand in the opening frame, as there were three ties while both teams were still in single digits. The Bulldogs pulled ahead 10-7 and held the lead until a Bulldog attack error helped the Blue Hose tie the set back up at 15. Asheville would take a two-point lead twice, with Presbyterian answering with the equalizing point both times. Back-to-back kills from Avery Loeback and Matilde Teixeira would extend the Bulldogs' lead out to 21-19, and Asheville would hold its lead for the remainder of the set to win the opening frame 25-23. Asheville recorded four service aces in the first set.
In the second set, Presbyterian jumped out to a 7-3 lead and extended its lead out 12-7, before the Bulldogs responded with a 6-0 run to take the lead 13-12. The Blue Hose answered with a 4-0 run, retaking the lead 16-13, and never looked back, as Presbyterian held the lead for the remainder of the set. Asheville would keep the score close however, bringing Presbyterian's lead down to one point three separate times, but could never regain the lead.It was tight once again for both teams to start the third set, as there were seven ties leading up to the first media timeout. Tied at 13, a kill from Baylor Herlehy, followed by a block by Loeback and Albertine van der Goot, helped Asheville gain the lead 15-13. Following the break, the two teams locked up eight times before Presbyterian scored the final two points to earn the win past regulation end (29-27).
Asheville looked to bounce back, as they led 6-4 in the fourth set, but Presbyterian would answer with an 8-0 run, and never look back. The Blue House would go on to extend its lead out to as many as 11 points.
IN THE BOX
Teixeira tied Presbyterian's Ashley Miller for a game-high 17 kills. Teixeira recorded a double-double, adding 11 digs to her stat line. Asheville recorded 11 service aces, with van der Goot leading the way with four. Teixeira and Ona Elkins recorded three each. Elkins recorded a double-double with 22 assists and 14 digs. Presbyterian took advantage of 43 Bulldog attack errors, while the Blue Hose only committed 16.
With Friday night's loss, Asheville falls to 6-9 (0-2 Big South).
UP NEXT
Asheville looks to bounce back tomorrow, Saturday, Sept. 30, as they host Charleston Southern at 2 p.m. in the Justice Center.
