University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
UNC Asheville
9-6,3-4Big South
Gardner-Webb
4-18,2-6Big South
Volleyball Falls to Gardner-Webb in Five Set Battle
10.29.2024 | Women's Volleyball
BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – The UNC Asheville volleyball team traveled to Gardner-Webb Tuesday evening to compete in a Big South Conference matchup and fell to the Runnin' Bulldogs in five sets (25-17, 13-25, 22-25, 25-15, 12-15).
ON THE COURT
Asheville opened the match with a dominant opening set as the Bulldogs never allowed GWU the lead. Tied at six the Bulldogs jumped ahead 13-8 and extended their lead out by eight (18-10). The Bulldogs extended their lead out to nine following a kill from Matilde Teixeira, a block from Kimberly Czepukaitis and a kill from Avery Loeback (23-14). Another kill from Loeback and an attack error from Gardner-Webb helped the Bulldogs to the opening set victory.
Gardner-Webb responded with a 12-1 run to open the second frame and the Bulldogs were unable to respond as GWU took the second frame 25-13.
In the third set the Bulldogs led 3-2 but a 4-0 run by Gardner-Webb put the Runnin' Bulldogs ahead 6-3. The Runnin' Bulldogs led for the rest of the frame, but a 5-0 run from Asheville tied the score at 20. Asheville's comeback attempt fell short as GWU went on to score the following three points to take the lead 23-20 and went on to win 25-22.
Trailing 5-4 the Bulldogs went on a 6-0 to jump ahead 10-5. The Bulldogs led for the rest of the set, extending their lead out to double figures with a kill from Czepukaitis (20-10). Asheville went on to win the set 25-15 and even the match 2-2.
In the deciding set, the Bulldogs quickly jumped ahead 6-2 with Megan Oppegard starting Asheville's run with an ace. Trailing 9-7, GWU tied the score with a block and a Bulldog attack error. Asheville moved back in the lead with a service error from Gardner-Webb but the Runnin' Bulldogs responded with the next three points to move ahead 12-10. A kill from Czepukaitis brought the score back within one but Asheville was unable to regain the lead as Gardner-Webb went on to win the deciding set to take the match 3-2.
IN THE BOX
Albertine van der Goot led the team with 13 kills, Kylie Cackovic followed with 12 and Matilde Teixeira had 11 kills. Czepukaitis had a .375 hitting percentage with eight kills and two errors off 16 attempts, Lydia Pate had six kills, no errors off 11 attempts for a .545 hitting percentage.
Payton Rolfsen anchored the offense with 35 assists and Riley Barr had 10. On defense, Michelle Thao led the team with 29 digs and was followed by Rolfsen with 16, Cackovic and Teixeira with 13 each and Oppegard with 10. At the net, the Bulldogs combined for 11 blocks with Pate and Czepukaitis having a solo block and four block assists each and van der Goot having five block assists. The Bulldogs had 59 kills compared to Gardner-Webb's 46 and finished with a .155 attack percentage compared to GWU's .119.
UP NEXT
Asheville returns to the court this weekend as the Bulldogs are back in the Justice Center on Friday and Saturday. The Bulldogs first face Charleston Southern at 6 p.m. on Nov. 1, before hosting Presbyterian at 2 p.m. on Nov. 2.
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 $12.1 billion. As a state-chartered community bank, First Bank operates 113 bank branches in North Carolina and South Carolina and a nationwide SBA platform. 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.
