Greenville, S.C. – The Furman volleyball team had four players finish with 10 or more kills, led by a match-high 17 from Courtney Hoffman, on Wednesday evening as the Paladins picked up their second consecutive win with a 3-1 (26-24, 21-25, 25-20, 25-20) victory over the UNC Greensboro Spartans at Alley Gymnasium.

Furman improves to 3-15 on the season and 3-4 in SoCon play while UNC Greensboro falls to 8-13 overall and 2-5 in the league.

The first set featured a total of 12 ties and seven lead changes. After the Spartans jumped out to a 4-1 lead to start the set, the Paladins came back to hold an 8-6 advantage on a kill from Neci Harris. UNC Greensboro answered by scoring three straight points to go in front 9-8 after a Furman attack error. The Paladins would then go on a 6-1 run, capped by a combination block from Hoffman and Gabby Howard, to take a 14-10 lead. A 9-2 run by the Spartans led to them tying their largest lead of the set, three points, at 19-16 on a Furman attack error. The Paladins then scored eight of the next 12 points to sit at set point, 24-23, following a UNCG attack error. The set would go into extra points before Hoffman and Lydia Morris posted back-to-back kills to give Furman the 26-24 victory.

The Paladins registered three of the opening four points of the second set before the Spartans used a 10-6 run to lead 11-9 on a kill by Brittany Wood. Harris evened the score twice for Furman midway with the last coming at 13-13 with her kill. A UNCG attack error later tied the score again at 16-16. UNC Greensboro would then go on a 7-3 run and led 23-19 after a kill by Emily Keilen. The Paladins attempted a late rally and got as close as two points, 23-21, following Harris' kill. Maria Esch picked up two straight kills to give the Spartans the 25-21 win.

The teams traded the first six points of the third set before Howard picked up back-to-back kills to give Furman a 4-3 advantage. The Paladins would outscore UNCG 9-5 after that and went ahead 13-8 when Hoffman connected on a kill. Furman took its largest lead of the set, seven points, three times beginning at 17-10 on Howard's kill. A Spartan attack error then gave the Paladins a 23-16 lead. The last came at 24-17 following a kill by Hoffman. Hoffman secured the 25-20 triumph for Furman with a kill.

The fourth set also saw the score tied a total of 15 times to go with six lead changes. The first 28 points featured 14 of the ties as Mack put the score at 14-14 with her kill. The Paladins then registered four of the next seven points to lead 20-17 on a solo block from Morris. Furman scored the final three points of the set on kills by Harris, Murphy and Mack to win 25-20, giving it the 3-1 match victory.

Hoffman, Harris, Mack and Howard all finished with double-digit kills to lead the Paladins offensively. Hoffman led all players with a match-high 17 kills and hit .361 for the match. Mack contributed 16 kills while Harris and Howard posted 12 apiece. Mack recorded her team-leading sixth double-double of the season after finishing with 16 digs. Katie Murphy dished out a career-high 54 assists. Andrea Aceveda had a team-best 28 digs and Natalie Dunn added a career-high 16.

Esch had a team-high 12 kills for UNC Greensboro while Keilen and Lauren Robeck each had 11. Esch compiled a double-double after adding 15 digs. Gabriela McHugh tallied 43 assists and Grace Howell 16 digs.

Furman concluded the match with a .269 team hitting percentage.

The Paladins remain at home on Friday, October 18 to host Mercer at 6 p.m.