University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
UNC Asheville
7-2,1-0Big South
Radford
5-9,2-1Big South
Volleyball Opens Conference Play with Victory over Radford
10.11.2024 | Women's Volleyball
SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The UNC Asheville volleyball team returned to the court Friday evening after 23 days of no competition and opened Big South Conference play with a four-set victory over Radford in the G.B. Hodge Center.
The Bulldogs are now on a seven-game win streak and are off to their best start in program history since going 7-2 to start the 2009 season. Friday's win also marks Asheville's first conference opener win since 2019.
SET-BY-SET
Set One (17-25): Radford's lone set win of the match came in the opening frame. Trailing by four, three consecutive kills from Matilde Teixeira, followed by two from Kimberly Czepukaitis, brought the score within one, but that was as close as Asheville would get, as Radford responded with an 8-1 run to jump ahead 19-11. The Highlanders would go on to win 25-17.
Set Two (25-20): After falling 4-0 to open the set, the Bulldogs worked their way into the lead following a 4-0 run after trailing 8-5. Radford tied the score at nine before Asheville went on an 8-0 run to take the lead 17-9. During the Bulldogs' run, Kylie Cackovic recorded three service aces.
An ace from Kylie Cackovic extends Asheville's run to five as Radford calls a timeout! #ALLinAVL pic.twitter.com/HPXlAz4jXH
— UNC Asheville Volleyball (@uncavlvb) October 11, 2024
The Highlanders worked their way back to trailing by three, but two Radford errors helped Asheville secure the final two points of the set to even the match 1-1.
Set Three (25-21): Asheville's momentum carried over to start the third frame as Asheville jumped out to a 6-1 run. The Bulldogs kept their lead for majority of the set before Radford went on a 5-0 run to tie the set at 18. Tied at 20, a kill from Avery Loeback sparked a 4-0 run to put the Bulldogs at set point. Teixeira helped take the dogs to victory with a kill, and Asheville moved to 2-1 in the match.
Set Four (25-22): In the final frame, Asheville took the lead out of the gate with a kill from Cackovic, followed by another kill to help the Bulldogs to a 4-1 lead. Radford kept the score within four points until back-to-back kills from Loeback helped Asheville to a 16-11 lead.
Avery Loeback sends us into the media break with a SLAM! pic.twitter.com/91XV7zbFLc
— UNC Asheville Volleyball (@uncavlvb) October 11, 2024
Radford attempted to push the match into a fifth set with a 4-0 run to trail Asheville by one (23-22), but an attack error followed by a block from Lydia Pate and Loeback helped secure the match for the Bulldogs.
IN THE BOX
Cackovic matched her career high in kills with 18 and recorded her third double-double of the season with 12 digs. Cackovic also led the team with four aces.
Michelle Thao recorded a career-high of 36 digs and is No. 2 in program records for most digs in a four-set match.
Matilde Teixeira had a double-double with 11 kills and a career-high 17 digs.
Payton Rolfsen and Kat Davis had 26 and 14 assists apiece.
Albertine van der Goot had nine kills, Avery Loeback had eight, Kimberly Czepukaitis had five, and Lydia Pate had four. Pate and Loeback each had three block assists.
As a team, the Bulldogs had a .241 attack percentage.
UP NEXT
Asheville is back in action in Spartanburg, S.C., at the G.B. Hodge Center on the campus of USC Upstate tomorrow, Saturday, Oct. 12, as the Bulldogs take on High Point at 3 p.m.
Tomorrow's match will not be streamed, but fans can follow live stats HERE.
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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.
