Sept. 11, 2005

Box Score 1

Box Score 2

ROCK HILL, South Carolina - The Furman volleyball team ended the Winthrop Invitational on a high note Saturday, defeating the University of North Florida 3-1 (28-30, 31-29, 30-27, 30-25) after suffering a 3-1 loss (30-25, 30-25, 24-30, 30-20) to Indiana earlier in the day.

"We actually played really good volleyball this weekend," said coach Michelle Young at the conclusion of the tournament. "We only won one, but there was some tough competition, and we were in every game. Our passing was much improved over last weekend and we looked more like the team I have seen in practice all preseason."

Whitney Purser (Howey-in-the-Hills, Fla.) continued her strong play with 15 kills, six digs, and a .273 attack percentage against the Hoosiers, while Ally Hock (Oviedo, Fla.) added 14 kills and 14 digs, and Chibuzo Aguocha (Houston, Texas) contributed 13 kills. Kim Tonkin (Atanta, Ga.) pitched in with 10 digs to shore up the Lady Paladin effort.

The Hoosiers were paced by Erica Short, who tallied 18 kills in the match.

In Furman's second match of the day it all came together after a two point loss in game one, when the Lady Paladins rallied to win three games in a row and take the match 3-1. Aguocha paced the Lady Paladins with 23 kills, a .241 attack percentage, 14 digs, and three total blocks. Purser added 18 kills, Hock chipped in 13, and Tonkin tallied 22 digs. Sophomore middle blocker Kerry Wooten (Hamptonville, N.C.) managed seven block assists on the night, while setter Courtney Stewardson (Apple Valley, Minn.) racked up 34 assists and three block assists.

UNF was paced by Megan Wood's 13 kills and a 24-dig effort by Jenna Thomas.

Purser was selected to represent the Lady Paladins on the all-tournament team. A junior outside hitter, Purser totaled 54 kills and a 4.5 per game average in three tournament matches, while hitting .292. In addition, she total four service aces, 35 digs, and three block assists in the competition.