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ROCK HILL, SC – The Bulldogs finished the match with 42 kills, 85 digs and a .127 hitting percentage. Leading the way for UNC Asheville offensively was Cindi Miller as she posted 20 kills.
The Eagles will be back in action Friday, Oct. 15 as they travel to Gardner-Webb for a 7 p.m. matchup. The Bulldogs return home as they play host to Coastal Carolina on Saturday Oct. 16. Game time for that match is set for 2 p.m.
Winthrop volleyball team took its fifth straight conference game on Saturday afternoon over the UNC Asheville Bulldogs in four sets (25-21, 25-22, 21-25, 26-24) at the Winthrop Coliseum. Senior libeiro Kelsey Harrison set a school record for digs in a four-set match with 31.
The win improves the Eagles record to 8-10 overall and 5-1 in the conference, as the Bulldogs fall to 12-8 overall and 5-2 in the Big South.
Harrison's 31 digs breaks Erin Lehman's school record of most digs in a four-set match of 27 when she did it against Coastal Carolina on November 13, 1999. Winthrop finished the match with 98 digs as four other Eagle players finished with double-digit digs. Senior outside hitter Kaley Viola finished with 17 digs, freshman setter Stephanie Palmer posted 16, freshman defensive specialist Carly DeBruhl ended with 12 and defensive specialist Kristin Cruse had 11. Viola posted her tenth double-double of the season with the addition of 16 kills, leading Winthrop. Sophomore outside hitter Carolyn Weed had 15 kills and junior middle hitter Becca ended the match with 12. Filling in for an injured Kelsey Hall, Palmer dished out 50 assists.
“Stephanie Palmer made the adjustment after hitting for the last few games,” head coach Sally Polhamus said. “She played well despite the role change.”
In the first set, UNC Asheville stormed out to an 11-6 lead early. The Eagles then stormed back to tie the set at 13-13. A 6-0 run by Winthrop gave it enough room to take the set 25-21. Weed finished the set with a .400 hitting percentage.
“Carolyn played very composed this afternoon,” Polhamus said. “She played a great game.”
The second set was even throughout the set as the teams found themselves in a 20-20 deadlock. The Eagles got three kills from Weed as that was enough for them to take the second set, 25-22. Harrison finished the set with 11 digs by herself. Winthrop finished the set with 17 kills.
In the third set, the teams swapped points early as they were tied at the 9-9 mark. The Bulldogs then went on a run and never relinquished the lead. UNC Asheville took the third set 25-21. Despite two Eagle players finishing with hitting percentages of over .500, it was not enough as the Bulldogs forced an extra set.
In the final set, Winthrop jumped out quickly to a 5-0 lead. The Eagles never trailed throughout the set despite a late Bulldog run. UNC Asheville came back from a 20-12 deficit and were only down one point at the 24-23 mark. Kills from redshirt-sophomore right side Brittany Blackman and Harrison gave the set and match to Winthrop.
“We did not hit our offensive goals today,” added Polhamus. “But we got the win, and that is very important in this conference.”
