GREENVILLE, S.C. – Allie Sweet's match high 33 kills propelled the UNC Greensboro Spartans to a 3-2 (13-25, 25-22, 26-28, 25-18, 15-11) victory over the Furman volleyball team in Southern Conference play, Friday evening from Timmons Arena.
Furman drops to 11-13 overall and 5-8 in the SoCon. With the win, UNC Greensboro improves to 17-7 for the year and 10-3 in league play.
For the second time this season,
Izzy Castelloe recorded at least 20 kills as the senior paced the Paladins with 20 on .486 hitting.
Kacie Moore hit .417 and finished with 12 kills.
Ashley Stein totaled eight kills and 11 digs, while
Tennyson Gorman and
Amber Watson both had eight kills.
Morgan Baldridge dished out 26 assists and
Emily Navarro provided 19 assists and nine digs.
Kennedy Seekford led the team with 17 digs.
Sweet was one of two Spartans that recorded double-doubles after finishing with 11 digs. Izora Gragg tallied 56 assists and 10 digs. Connore' Siler-Nixon compiled 15 kills and Chloe Nussbaum 20 digs.
Furman hit .391 in the opening set, while holding UNCG to a .000 clip, to claim the 25-13 win. Castelloe and Stein both finished with five kills, Baldridge seven assists, and Seekford three digs. The Paladins started on a 7-3 run, highlighted by the initial five points, and built a 15-9 advantage at the media timeout when Gorman and
Campbell Woods teamed up for a block. Furman came out of the break and outscored the Spartans, 10-5, to capture the set. Castelloe and Stein combined for the final six kills.
UNC Greensboro rallied back to take the second set by a 25-22 score. The Paladins compiled a .125 hitting percentage with Gorman and Moore posting three kills, Navarro five assists, and Stein six digs.
The third set went into extra points as Furman held on for the 28-26 victory to take a 2-1 lead in the match. The Paladins totaled a .343 hitting mark with Castelloe and Watson combining for 11 of the team's 16 kills. Navarro contributed seven assists and Seekford and Stein added three digs apiece. Furman led for most of the set and held a 12-7 advantage when UNCG called a timeout following back-to-back kills from Castelloe. Castelloe would give the Paladins a 23-21 lead late when the Spartans answered with four of the next five points to sit at set point, 25-24. The teams traded the next four points, and Furman went ahead, 27-26, on Watson's kill. Watson secured the frame for the Paladins off another kill.
UNC Greensboro would capture the match with a 25-18 triumph in the fourth set and 15-11 in the fifth. The Paladins were limited to .108 hitting in the fourth as Moore turned in five kills, Baldridge six assists, and Seekford six digs. The fifth set saw Furman post a .316 hitting percentage, but the Spartans responded by hitting .455 as a team. Castelloe had four kills, Baldridge three assists, and Navarro two digs.
The Paladins concluded the contest hitting .234 and held a 64-59 advantage in digs. Furman also collected 60 kills and 53 assists while posting 14.0 blocks. Six different players recorded a block led by Gorman's seven.
The Paladins and Spartans conclude their series Saturday evening at 7 p.m. from Timmons Arena. Fans can follow the action on www.furmanpaladins.com via live stats. Updates will be posted on the Furman volleyball Twitter page (@FurmanVB).
Single-game tickets are available at $10 with groups being able to purchase tickets at $5. Kids 12 years and younger receive free admission.
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