Greensboro, N.C. – Grainne McGrath finished with a match high 10 kills, while the Paladins had a season high .293 hitting percentage, as Furman completed the season sweep of the UNC Greensboro Spartans following a 3-1 (25-23, 25-16, 18-25, 25-12) victory on Friday evening at Fleming Gymnasium.
With the win, the Paladins improve to 7-18 on the season and 3-12 in conference play. UNC Greensboro drops to 10-19 overall and 4-12 in the league.
McGrath hit a career best .667 in the contest and recorded her 10 kills on zero attack errors while adding four blocks, three digs and two service aces.
Morgan Cobb and
Lauren Haynes both registered nine kills, and
Sydney Tanner and
Ava Augustson added eight and seven.
Sarah Turner (26) and
Ella Abraham (20) combined for 46 assists. Haynes also registered 17 digs.
Andrea Aceveda surpassed Janine Turner (1984-87) into second place all-time at Furman in career digs after leading all players with a match high 19.
Daija Jackson and Gabriela McHugh both led the Spartans offensively with nine kills apiece, while Taylor Robertson provided eight and Mya Wood seven. McHugh would finish with a double-double after dishing out 30 assists to go with 13 digs. Defensively, Ella Voegele had a team best 16 digs and Wood contributed 11.
The Paladins began the first set scoring seven of the initial 11 points and later used a 7-0 run midway to go ahead 15-8 on McGrath's service ace. Furman would hold a 21-15 advantage late and sat at set point leading 24-19 after a solo block from Watkins. UNCG rallied with four consecutive points to trail 24-23, but the Paladins won the set on the following play after a service error.
Furman opened the second set on a 6-1 run and took an early 13-3 lead when Tanner connected on a kill. The Spartans would get to within eight points, 15-7, midway only to see the Paladins score seven of the next nine to lead 22-9 after Augustson and Watkins combined for three straight kills. Tanner would secure the 25-16 victory with her kill.
UNC Greensboro responded by winning the third set 25-18 and cut Furman's lead down to 2-1. The Paladins held an early 9-8 lead on Haynes' kill, but UNCG responded with a 9-4 run to go in front 17-12. The Spartans maintained a seven-point lead late at 20-13. Furman attempted a rally by going on a 5-2 run and cut its deficit down to 22-18 on a UNCG service error. The Spartans would score the last three points of the set.
UNCG went ahead 3-2 to begin the fourth set before the Paladins used an 11-2 run to break the set open and lead 13-5 after a Spartan attack error. Furman would lead by 10 points a total of six times with the last coming at 22-12. The Paladins concluded the frame by receiving three straight kills from Watkins, McGrath, and Tanner. Tanner's kill secured the 25-12 set win and 3-1 match victory.
For the seventh time this season Furman registered double-digit blocks as a team after finishing with 14, tying for the second-highest total of the year. Watkins set a new career high with nine total blocks on six solo and three assisted. Her six solo blocks tie a school record set three times previously by Janine Turner (11/5/84 vs. Charlotte), Shawn Beckham (10/12/99 vs. Wofford) and Neci Harris (11/22/19 at Wofford).
The Paladins conclude their regular season on Saturday traveling to Cullowhee, N.C. for a 6 p.m. matchup at Western Carolina.
