University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
UNC Asheville
1-2,0-0Big South
Morgan State
0-7,0-0MEAC
Bulldogs Earn First Win of Season in Sweeping Fashion
09.07.2024 | Women's Volleyball
CARROLLTON, Ga. – Behind another explosive day from Kylie Cackovic, the UNC Asheville volleyball team earned its first win of the 2024 season, as the Bulldogs downed Morgan State in three sets (25-23, 25-22, 25-18) on Saturday to conclude their time in the UWG Tournament.
"I am really proud of the way our team battled this weekend," said Head Coach Danielle Marante. "They showed that every match is a new opportunity to learn and grow together on the court. Today was a great team win!"
Marante earned her first career win at the Division I level following Saturday's victory.
RACKING UP THE KILLS
The Bulldogs combined for 50 kills against the Bears, which is No. 5 in program history for most kills in a 3-set match.
Cackovic led the match with 15 kills as she finished with a .297 attack percentage and finished the weekend with a total of 47 kills. Cackovic recorded her first double-double of the season with 10 digs.
Matilde Teixeira followed with nine digs and finished with a .375 attack percentage. Baylor Herlehy, Lydia Pate, and Avery Loeback all recorded seven kills each. Pate had a .538 attack percentage, recording zero attack errors out of 13 attempts.
MAY WE ASSIST?
Kat Davis also recorded her first double-double of the season, with 15 assists and 10 digs. Payton Rolfsen led the match with 26 assists and nearly recorded a double-double with eight digs.
The team's 46 assists are tied for No. 4 in program history for most assists in a three-set match.
EXPERT DIGGER
Michelle Thao led Asheville's defense with 14 digs and finished the weekend with 51 digs.
SET-BY-SET
Neither team came out with the heavy hand in the opening frame as the set featured 11 ties and seven lead changes. Trailing 16-14, Asheville called a timeout and came out of the break with a 4-0 run to take the lead for the rest of the set. The Bulldogs' lead never extended past 3-points, as Morgan State kept the set close until the very end. Back-to-back kills by Morgan State brought the score within one (23-22), causing Asheville to take a timeout. Out of the break, Matilde Teixeira recorded a kill, followed by a Morgan State kill, but Kylie Cackovic followed with the set-winning kill to help Asheville win 25-23.
It was another back-and-forth battle in the second frame, with 12 ties and seven lead changes. Morgan State took a two-point lead, but the Bulldogs quickly responded with a kill from Lydia Pate, an attack error by the Bears, and a kill by Avery Loeback to move ahead 22-21. Morgan State called a timeout, and out of the break, the Bears evened the score at 22, but that was Morgan State's final point of the set, as Asheville scored the final three points to take a 2-0 match lead.
In the third and final frame, Asheville held a 6-5 lead following a kill from Cackovic, but Morgan St. responded with a 4-0 run to move ahead 9-6. The Bulldogs answered with a 7-1 run sparked by a kill from Pate. The Bears brought the score back within one following a Bulldog service error (15-14), but a block from Albertine van der Goot and Baylor Herlehy sparked a 5-1 run for Asheville. Cackovic and Herlehy recorded two kills apiece in Asheville's run. Asheville limited Morgan State to three points for the rest of the set, as the Bulldogs scored five to earn the team's first win.
UP NEXT
Asheville returns to action on Tuesday, Sept. 10, when the Bulldogs welcome Western Carolina to the Justice Center for their home opener. Game time is 4:30 p.m.
About Women's Athletics Presenting Partner First Bank
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