Bulldogs Grind Out Five-Set Victory Over UNCW, Split Friday Matches

Team	1	2	3	Final F
UNC Asheville	12	20	21	0
Harvard	25	25	25	3

UNC Asheville

Harvard

Team	1	2	3	4	5	Final F
UNC Asheville	25	19	31	20	15	3
UNCW	23	25	29	25	13	2

WILMINGTON, N.C. – The UNC Asheville volleyball team bounced back from a morning loss to Harvard in a big way Friday night, grinding out a five-set victory over UNCW to split its two matches on the day in the UNCW Invitational.

The Bulldogs defeated the Seahawks 25-23, 19-25, 31-29, 20-25, 15-13 to improve to 8-2 on the season. The matchup marked Asheville's first meeting with UNCW since 2013 and the Bulldogs' first victory over the Seahawks since 2008. Earlier Friday, Asheville fell to Harvard in straight sets, 25-12, 25-20, 25-21.

UNCW Match

Asheville's serving proved to be a major difference-maker against UNCW, as the Bulldogs finished with 14 service aces while holding the Seahawks to just four. Sarah Wadsworth led Asheville's efforts from the service line with a team-high four aces, while Lydia Pate and Elise Jensen added three apiece.

Addie Brookbank and Wadsworth led the Bulldog attack with 14 kills each, while Lily Bannister had a career night, recording career highs in kills (12), digs (five) and total blocks (four). Cadence Nichols and Albertine van der Goot chipped in six kills apiece, with Nichols' six kills coming on just 11 attempts for a team-best .364 hitting percentage.

Izzy Perkins anchored the back row with a career-high 22 digs while also adding two service aces. Olivia Callipo dished out a career-high 24 assists and added nine digs, while Jensen contributed 16 assists as Asheville utilized its two-setter attack.

There were 38 ties and 15 lead changes throughout the five-set match, including nine ties and five lead changes in the opening frame alone. Asheville trailed 19-17 before Perkins sparked the Bulldogs with a service ace, followed by a kill from Bannister to give Asheville a 20-19 advantage.

Errors played a major role down the stretch, as seven of the final eight points in the set came off miscues. The Bulldogs capitalized on three UNCW errors late to help secure the 25-23 opening-set victory.

UNCW responded in the second frame, building an early advantage before Asheville battled back to tie the set at 16 on a service ace from Jensen. Wadsworth followed with an ace of her own to put the Bulldogs in front, 18-17, but the Seahawks answered with a strong closing run. UNCW held Asheville to just one more point the rest of the way, finishing the set on an 8-1 run to take the frame, 25-19, and even the match at one set apiece.

The third set turned into a marathon, featuring 14 ties. Asheville fell behind by seven points, 14-7, before steadily working its way back into the frame. A solo block from Wadsworth helped spark the comeback, and a kill from Bannister eventually evened the score at 18.

That 18-18 tie was only the beginning of a back-and-forth finish, as the teams combined for 10 ties late in the set. The Bulldogs eventually built a 24-21 advantage, but UNCW answered to pull even at 24. From there, the score was tied again at 25, 26, 27, 28 and 29.

Addie Brookbank delivered a kill to make it 29-29 before a UNCW attack error gave Asheville set point. Bannister then slammed home the winning kill to cap the marathon frame, 31-29, and give the Bulldogs a 2-1 match lead.

The Seahawks forced a deciding fifth set with a 25-20 victory in the fourth. The frame featured some early back-and-forth action, but UNCW controlled the lead for much of the set. Asheville made a late push and pulled within one, 17-16, following a kill from Bannister, but the Seahawks never allowed the Bulldogs to move in front. UNCW maintained its advantage down the stretch to close out the set and send the match to a fifth.

With the match on the line, the fifth set lived up to the battle that preceded it. Neither team led by more than a point early before Wadsworth broke a 7-7 tie with a kill. She followed with back-to-back service aces to put Asheville in front 10-7.

UNCW would not go away, eventually pulling even at 12-12, but Bannister answered with a kill to give Asheville the lead back. Wadsworth followed with a kill to bring it to match point. After UNCW extended the match with one more point, Wadsworth delivered again, putting away the final kill for the 15-13 victory.

Harvard Match

Earlier Friday, Asheville had its seven-match winning streak snapped by Harvard in a 3-0 loss.

Wadsworth led the Bulldogs with nine kills, while Pate and Brookbank finished with eight each. Nichols added four kills and two solo blocks, and Perkins paced Asheville defensively with 14 digs. Jensen handed out a team-best 19 assists.

Harvard hit .310 for the match compared to Asheville's .103 and finished with an 11-5 advantage in total blocks. The Crimson took the opening set 25-12 before Asheville battled closer in the final two frames, falling 25-20 and 25-21.

Despite the loss, Asheville improved offensively as the match progressed, hitting .000 in the first set, .083 in the second and .216 in the third.

The Bulldogs finish Friday at 8-2 overall following the split.

Up Next

Asheville closes out its time in Wilmington by facing Norfolk State at 11 a.m. on Saturday (Sept. 12). Asheville and Norfolk State hold the top two spots in the nation in aces per set, with Norfolk State leading the way at 3.21 per set and Asheville following at 3.04.