University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
UNC Asheville
11-8,5-6Big South
Gardner-Webb
5-20,3-8Big South
Early Lead Slips as Bulldogs Fall at Gardner-Webb
11.08.2024 | Women's Volleyball
BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – The UNC Asheville volleyball team had an early 2-0 lead in Friday night's match against Gardner-Webb, but the Runnin' Bulldogs did not back down, as they stormed back, winning the third and fourth sets to send the match into a deciding fifth set, where they would walk away victorious.
Asheville won the first two sets 25-23 and 27-25, while Gardner-Webb won the final sets 25-17, 30-28, and 15-10.
The match featured 33 ties and 17 lead changes, with the first frame coming down to the final points to determine a winner. Trailing by one, a kill from Kylie Cackovic sparked a 3-0 run from Asheville to put the Bulldogs ahead 21-19. Gardner-Webb brought the score back within one (22-21) before another kill from Cackovic, and an ace from Catherine Hubiak put the Bulldogs at set point. Gardner-Webb responded with the following two points, but a kill from Lydia Pate secured the opening set victory for the Bulldogs.
Asheville's momentum carried over to the second set as the Bulldogs opened on a 3-0 run. Gardner-Webb tied the score at three, marking the first of 11 ties in the second set. Trailing 4-3, GWU went on a 7-0 run to take a 10-4 lead. The Bulldogs were able to bring the score back within three points before Gardner-Webb retook a six-point lead (14-8). This would be as large as Gardner-Webb's lead would get, as the Bulldogs responded with a 5-0 run to make it a one-point set. A kill from Ana Djurovic and an attack error from GWU tied the set at 15. There would go on to be eight more ties throughout the set. Tied at 21, Asheville scored the following two points, and a kill from Kimberly Czepukaitis put the Bulldogs at set point (24-22). The Runnin' Bulldogs responded with the following three points to take set point 25-24. Asheville responded with the next three points to take the second set past regulation end. The last three points to win the set came from a kill by Czepukaitis, a block from Albertine van der Goot, and Czepukaitis and a kill from van der Goot.
Tied at six in the third set, Gardner-Webb went on a 9-2 run and never looked back as the Runnin' Bulldogs looked to avoid the three-set sweep. GWU extended their lead to double-digits at 24-14 before back-to-back kills from Czepukaitis, and a kill from Djurovic brought the score back within seven. This would be as close as Asheville would get as GWU won the third set following a Bulldog service error.
It was another back-and-forth set in the fourth frame as the two teams locked up 12 ties and had seven lead changes. The Bulldogs took a four-point lead (12-8) before GWU responded with a 6-0 run. Asheville moved back ahead by one before the Runnin' Bulldogs responded with the next six points to lead 20-15. Gardner-Webb was two points away from sending the match into a fifth set when the Bulldogs went on a 4-0 run to bring the score within two (23-21). A kill from Gardner-Webb made it set point, but the Bulldogs did not go down easily as they scored the next four points to take set point (25-24). This would be the only time Asheville would be in a position to win the set, as Gardner-Webb scored the following two points and did not allow Asheville to regain the lead. Asheville tied the score three times in the closing points before GWU scored the final two points, sending the match into a deciding fifth frame.
Gardner-Webb carried its momentum to the final set as the Runnin' Bulldogs jumped out to a 4-0 lead and never looked back as they performed the match comeback to take the victory Friday evening.
Payton Rolfsen had a double-double, recording career-highs with 56 assists and 17 digs. Michelle Thao had a career-high with 38 digs. Kylie Cackovic had three career-highs with 24 kills, 24 points, and 18 digs. Kimberly Czepukaitis also had a career day with 15 kills and Ana Djurovic had career-highs with 16 kills and 17 digs. Catherine Hubiak had a career day with 17 digs as well. Czepukaitis led the team with a .565 hitting percentage.
Asheville's 120 digs as a team ties the program record for most digs in a five-set match.
UP NEXT
Asheville travels to Winthrop to face the Eagles tomorrow, Saturday, Nov. 8 at 5 p.m.
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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.
