Box Score

ASHEVILLE, NC – The Winthrop volleyball team dropped its sixth conference match of the season as the Eagles fell to the UNC Asheville Bulldogs in five sets (25-22, 22-25, 22-25, 25-23, 15-13) Friday night at the Justice Center.

The loss drops the Eagles to 11-15 on the season and 8-6 in the Big South as the Bulldogs improve their record to 17-10 overall and 9-4 in the conference.

As a team, Winthrop set a new school record in digs as a team with 110. The previous record was held by the 2004 squad when they posted 106 against Coastal Carolina on November, 21.

Leading the way offensively for the Eagles was junior middle hitter Becca Toor with her career best 22 kills. Behind Toor was senior outside hitter Kellie Sellers as she finished the night with their third double-double of the season posting 12 kills and 12 digs. Senior outside hitter Kaley Viola also finished the night with a double-double, her fourteenth, as she closed out the night with 10 kills and 17 digs. Defensively, senior libeiro Kelsey Harrison led Winthrop with 25 digs. Following Harrison was senior setter Kelsey Hall tying her career high in digs with 23. Behind Hall in the digs category was Viola with 17, sophomore defensive specialist Kristin Cruse with 14 and Sellers with 12. Hall also dished out a team leading 45 assists.

"This was a great defensive match for both teams." Head Coach Sally Polhamus said.

The first set saw both teams go on runs throughout the set. The Eagles went on a 4-1 run to start the set. UNC Asheville then fought their way back going on an 8-2 run, taking an early lead at 9-6. Winthrop then made another run, tying the set at the 17-17 mark. The Bulldogs then took the next point and made the final run as they never trailed after the 18-17 mark to close out the set. UNC Asheville took the first set 25-22. Toor and Weed led the Eagles with three kills apiece as Harrison closed out the set with five digs.

"We had a slow start in the first set," Polhamus said. "We had 17 unforced errors."

The teams traded points early in the second set as the teams found each other in a deadlock at the 6-6 mark. The Eagles made a run from that point, taking their biggest lead at 15-8. Slowly, the Bulldogs inched their way back in the set, finally tying the set at 22-22. After a Winthrop timeout, a back-row kill from Viola propelled the Eagles to a 25-22 set win. Toor finished the set with eight kills.

In the third set, the teams were even throughout the set. The set featured 11 ties and eight lead changes as Winthrop pulled away in the end, taking the set 25-22. Toor closed out the third set matching set high with eight. As a team, the Eagles posted 19 kills and a .271 attacking percentage.

"We finally found our offensive in sets two and three tonight." Polhamus said.

The fourth set saw the Bulldogs jump out to the early advantage, taking a lead at 8-3. Winthrop stormed back, taking their biggest lead at the 19-15 mark. UNC Asheville made a comeback of its own, outscoring the Eagles 10-4 to take the fourth set 25-23.

In the deciding set, Winthrop maintained a lead throughout, until the Bulldogs raced back, tying the final set at 11-11. UNC Asheville then controlled the last part of the set, taking five of the next eight points, winning the final set 15-13.

"Playing on the road is tough," Polhamus said. "You have to finish staying aggressive and executing at the end of matches."

The Bulldogs finished with two players having double-doubles. Kelsey Benorden finished the night with 19 kills and 18 digs as teammate Cindi Miller closed out the match with 12 kills and 23 digs.

The Eagles will be back in action on Wednesday, Nov. 10 when they play host to Presbyterian College. That match is set for 6 p.m. UNC Asheville will remain at home in its next match as they play host to Charleston Southern on Saturday, Nov. 6 for a 6 p.m. showdown.