University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
UNC Asheville
Radford
Volleyball’s Season Resumes This Weekend in Spartanburg
10.10.2024 | Women's Volleyball
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – The UNC Asheville volleyball team returns to action this weekend (Oct. 11-12) as the Bulldogs host Radford and High Point at USC Upstate.
USC Upstate generously offered Asheville the opportunity to move their home games against Radford and High Point to the G.B. Hodge Center on their campus, as the Spartans will also be playing both teams this weekend.
UNC Asheville is operating under Condition 3 Closure until at least Monday, October 21, 2024.
ABOUT THE BULLDOGS
Friday's match against Radford will be the Bulldogs' first match since Sept. 17, as the Bulldogs defeated UNC Charlotte in five sets. The Bulldogs are off to their best start since 2009 as Asheville is 6-2 entering the weekend. Friday's match will mark the Bulldogs' first Big South Conference game of the season.
Entering conference play, the Bulldogs are led by Kylie Cackovic, who has 96 kills and averages 3.10 a set. On defense, Cackovic has 81 digs, averaging 2.61 a set. Cackovic leads the team with 107 points.
Matilde Teixeira follows with 76 kills and is second on the team with 11 service aces. Teixeira has 65 digs and is second on the team with 90.5 points.
Albertine van der Goot has 66 kills and leads the team with 26 total blocks.
Payton Rolfsen leads the team with 165 assists, averaging 5.32 a set. She is tied for third with nine service aces, six of which she recorded in Asheville's win over Charlotte, which tied the program record for most aces by a player in a five-set match. She is also third on the team in digs with 70.
Leading the team in digs and service aces in Michelle Thao. Thao has 125 digs, averaging 4.03 a set, and 18 service aces.
As a team, the Bulldogs have 390 kills, a .221 attack percentage, and an average of 12.6 kills per set.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
Radford- The Highlanders are 5-8 and 2-0 entering Friday's contest. Sydney Mundkowsky leads the team with 176 kills and is a three-time Big South Conference Player of the Week honoree this season, with her most recent honor coming after her performance this past weekend. Mundkowsky is also second on the team in aces with 15. Sophie Paspel is second on the team in kills with 126 and leads the team with 75 total blocks.
Julia Slivka leads Radford with 279 assists, averaging 6.34 a set. She is second on the team in digs with 108 (2.45 dig/s).
Miranda Howard leads Radford's defense with 195 digs, averaging 4.15 a set.
As a team, Radford leads the league in points (17.21 p/s) hitting percentage (.237), assists (12.19 p/s) and kills (13.04 p/s).
The Highlanders hold a 38-35 series record over the Bulldogs. Asheville will look for its first win over Radford since the 2020-21 season.
High Point- The Panthers enter this weekend 10-5 and 2-0 in Big South play. Dylan Maberry leads the team with 236 kills and is second with 18 service aces and 143 digs.
Jordyn Schilling leads the team with 264 digs and 19 aces. Her efforts this past weekend earned her Big South Conference Libero of the Week.
As a team, High Point is second in the league in points (17.02 p/s), hitting percentage (.233), assists (12.19 p/s), and kills (13.02). The Panthers lead the league in blocks with 153 total, averaging 2.59 a set. High Point's leading blocker is Arica Davis, who has 86 total blocks.
Asheville leads the series against High Point 32-23. The Bulldogs are looking for their first win over High Point since 2016.
WEEKEND COVERAGE
Click HERE to watch Friday's game live on ESPN+. Saturday's match will not be streamed. Live stats for both games will be available HERE.
BULLDOGS ON SOCIAL MEDIA
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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.
