Cullowhee, N.C. – Annie BIerman and Christen Sikora each recorded double-doubles and Furman volleyball swept UNCG, 3-0 (25-18, 25-16, 25-14), to secure a spot in Monday's Southern Conference championship match. The win secured Furman's second-straight 20-win season, while the loss ended UNCG's season at 22-11.

Bierman led all hitters with 12 kills and added 15 digs for her 19^th double-double of the season while Sikora put down 11 kills and 10 digs for her third double-double of the year. Meg DeMaar turned in a team-high 19 digs, while Jo Wilks dished out 37 assists.

UNCG was led by Ashely Muench and Alexis Mourier, each with seven kills, while SoCon Libero of the Year Katherine Santiago added 11 digs.

The teams traded points in the early going, until the Paladins grabbed a two-point lead at 6-4. Furman held on to the advantage until UNCG tied the set at 8. The teams traded points until the Paladins were able to push the lead to three at 12-9, before UNCG again rallied to tie the set, then took its first lead at 13-12. The Paladins then used a 5-1 run to push the lead back to three at 17-14 and force UNCG to call its first timeout of the match. Out of the timeout, the Paladins used an 8-4 run to close out the first set, 25-18, and take a 1-0 match lead.

UNCG took an early timeout in set two, after Furman jumped out to a 6-1 lead. The Paladins kept the momentum, rattling off three-straight to push the lead to 9-1 and force the Spartans to burn their final timeout of the set. Furman opened its largest lead at 12-1, before UNCG pulled to within 8 at 14-6. UNCG cut the lead to seven at 18-11, but the Paladins capitalized on the early led and took set two, 25-16, taking a 2-0 match lead into the break.

The Paladins again opened an early lead in set three, this time taking five of the set's first six points. Furman continued to hold the momentum, using a kill by Bierman and ace by Caitlyn Scioscia to push the lead to 9-3 and force UNCG to call a timeout. Out of the timeout, the Spartans cut the lead to four at 11-7, then the teams traded points until back-to-back points by UNCG cut the Furman lead to three at 13-10. Back-to-back Paladin points prompted another UNCG timeout, then Furman pushed the lead to eight at 20-12. Furman then extended the lead to ten at 24-14, before a kill by Bierman ended the set, 25-14, and gave Furman the 3-0 match win.

The Paladins are back in action Monday, November 23, facing Chattanooga in the Southern Conference Championship match at 6:00 p.m. on ESPN3.