Greenville, S.C. – The Furman volleyball team fell short in its comeback on Saturday afternoon, falling 3-2 (22-25, 14-25, 25-23, 26-24, 15-17) to the league-leading UNC Greensboro Spartans in Southern Conference action from Alley Gymnasium.

The Paladins drop to 6-10 on the season and 1-5 in conference play, while UNC Greensboro improves to 16-3 overall and 5-1 in the league.

Bella Tolone and Neci Harris combined for 36 kills to lead Furman offensively, with Tolone recording a team-high 19 and Harris 17. Tolone collected her team-leading ninth double-double of the season after finishing with 15 digs. Sarah Turner added her sixth double-double on 24 assists and 11 digs. Ella Abraham provided 23 assists. Andrea Aceveda collected 16 digs and Natalie Dunn 11.

Kayla White's double-double of 25 kills and 20 digs led the Spartans. Gabriela McHugh also registered a double-double with 54 assists and 19 digs. Brittany Wood posted 18 kills and Grey Breen 12. Jenna Wiggs led all players with 28 digs and Mandy Garvens had 18.

UNCG opened the first set on a 7-2 run and took a five-point lead after back-to-back kills from White. The Paladins responded with five consecutive points and trailed 7-5 following a solo block by Tolone. Furman stayed within three early when a Spartan attack error put the score at 12-9. UNC Greensboro then used a 5-2 run to increase its lead to 17-11 on a Paladin attack error. Furman rallied back by scoring five straight points, including two kills by Harris, to cut its deficit down to 17-16. After the Spartans went ahead 23-19, the Paladins got to within two points twice the rest of the way. Harris made the score 24-22 with her kill. UNCG won the set, 25-22, the following play.

UNC Greensboro scored 10 of the first 12 points of the second set and held a 10-2 lead on a kill by Breen. A Furman attack error would later make the score 15-6. The Paladins then scored three consecutive points, including a kill from Maya Mrus, to trail 15-10 midway. The Spartans outscored Furman 10-4 the rest of the way for the 25-14 victory.

The Paladins responded in the third set to win 25-23 and cut UNC Greensboro's lead to 2-1. Furman started on a 5-2 run before getting back-to-back blocks to go ahead 8-3, forcing UNCG into a timeout. The Paladins took their largest lead of the set when Kelsey Watkins' kill put them in front 16-8. Furman would maintain the lead midway and held a 22-16 advantage following a bad set by the Spartans. UNC Greensboro staged a late rally by going on a 15-8 run and cut the Paladins' lead down to 24-23. Tolone captured the set for Furman the following play with her kill.

The Paladins got off to another fast start in the fourth set, scoring seven of the first 10 points to take a 7-3 lead capped by Harris' kill. UNCG responded by cutting its deficit down to 7-6 following a kill from McHugh. Furman broke the set open courtesy of a 13-6 run and increased its lead out to 20-12 when Harris connected on a kill. For the second consecutive set, UNC Greensboro made another rally late with a 7-1 run and cut the Paladins' lead down to 21-19. Furman got to set point, 24-21, on a kill by Dunn. The Spartans scored the next three points to tie the score at 24-24, forcing the Paladins into a timeout. Furman came out of the timeout to get a kill from Harris, and combination block from Harris and Chandler Parker, to win 26-24.

The Paladins jumped out to an early 5-2 lead to begin the fifth set and later went in front 9-4 after a UNCG attack error. The Spartans responded with five straight points to tie the score at 9-9, forcing Furman into a timeout. The Paladins came out of the timeout scoring the next two points on a Spartan attack error and kill by Sydney Tanner. Furman would then be forced to call a timeout of its own after UNC Greensboro scored the next three points to take a 12-11 lead. The next seven plays saw the score tied four times with the last coming at 15-15 on a Spartan service error. UNCG recorded the next two points to win the set, 17-15, and capture the match, 3-2.

The Paladins concluded the match with double-digit blocks for the fourth time this season, finishing with 11. Harris and Tanner both had four blocks, while Tolone, Parker and Watkins tallied three apiece.

Furman travels to Samford and Mercer next weekend, October 15-16, for a pair of Southern Conference matches.