University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
UNC Asheville
8-4,2-2Big South
Charleston Southern
5-15,2-5Big South
Bulldogs Fall to Buccaneers in Five-Set Showdown
10.19.2024 | Women's Volleyball
CHARLESTON, S.C. – It was a heartbreaker for the UNC Asheville volleyball team on Saturday, as the Bulldogs held a 2-1 set lead over the Charleston Southern Buccaneers before the Bucs rallied back, winning the final two sets to take the match 3-2.
PLAY-BY-PLAY (21-25, 25-21, 25-19, 20-25, 10-15)
Neither team jumped out with the heavy hand in any of the sets, as the opening set featured seven ties and six lead changes. Charleston Southern took an early 5-2 lead, but the Bulldogs answered with a 5-0 run to move ahead 7-5. Back-to-back blocks from Kylie Cackovic and Avery Loeback fueled Asheville's run. The Bucs would tie the score at 11 and take a two-point lead with a 6-0 run. The Bulldogs would begin to chip away at CSU's lead as a kill from Cackovic sparked a 5-0 run and helped Asheville back in the lead (18-16). The Buccaneers responded with the following three points, and Asheville answered with the next two, but that would be the last lead the Bulldogs would have, as Charleston Southern closed the set on a 6-1 run.
In the second frame, Asheville trailed 3-1 early in the set but went on a 9-1 run to jump ahead 10-4. Asheville held the lead for the rest of the set and evened the match 1-1. Matilde Teixeira, Kylie Cackovic, and Kimberly Czepukaitis each had three kills, and Payton Rolfsen had 11 assists.
Asheville's offense came out hot in the third frame as the Bulldogs combined for 18 kills, with Teixeira leading the pack with six and Albertine van der Goot with five. Rolfsen anchored the offense with 14 assists. Asheville held the lead for the entire third frame to take a 2-1 match lead.
The Buccaneer's offense came alive in the fourth frame as the Bucs outkilled the Bulldogs 15-8. Tied at six, CSU went on a 5-0 run to take the lead 11-6, and the Bulldogs were unable to battle back as Charleston Southern remained in the lead for the rest of the set to even the match 2-2.
In the final frame, Asheville took an early 4-2 lead with a kill from van der Goot and a block from Lydia Pate. The Buccaneers took the lead 6-5 before Asheville responded with three points. A 4-0 run from CSU put the Bucs back in the lead (11-9), and Asheville was unable to battle back as Charleston Southern went on to win the final frame 15-10.
IN THE BOX
Three Bulldogs recorded double-digit kills, with Cackovic leading the pack with 15, followed by Teixeira with 11 and van der Goot with 10, and a team-high .400 attack percentage. The team combined for 53 kills.
Rolfsen had a career-high 42 assists and added nine digs to her stat line. Michelle Thao led the team with 16 digs, followed by Cackovic with 15 and Teixeira with 14. Asheville recorded seven solo blocks and eight block assists, with Pate leading the way with three solo blocks and two assists. Van der Goot followed with two solo stops and two assists.
UP NEXT
Asheville is back on the road next weekend as the Bulldogs travel to High Point on Friday, Oct. 25, for a 6 p.m. match and Radford on Saturday, Oct. 26, for a 2 p.m. match.
To stay updated with Asheville volleyball, follow the team on 𝕩.
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.
