Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 USA Box Score
Georgia Southern Box Score
STATESBORO, GA - The Winthrop volleyball team spilt its two matches at the SpringHill Suites Invitational on Friday as the Eagles defeated the South Alabama Jaguars 3-1 (25-13, 25-22, 23-25, 25-19), but fell to the host, Georgia Southern Eagles, in straight sets (25-20, 25-20, 25-23) at Hanner Fieldhouse.
In the first match against South Alabama (5-8), Winthrop was lead by senior middle hitter Sara Felts with her new personal-best 17 kills. Junior middle hitter Becca Toor finished with 12 kills and Viola finished with 10 kills and 15 digs. Senior libeiro Kelsey Harrison led the Eagles with 19 digs and right after Viola's 15 digs, senior outside hitter Kellie Sellers had 10 digs. Freshman setter Stephanie Palmer added 30 assists, while senior setter Kelsey Hall had 11.
In the first set, the Eagles (3-8) committed just two attacking errors and had a hitting percentage of .276. Winthrop took the lead early and ran away with the set 25-13. Viola and Felts both had three kills in the set, while sophomore outside hitter Carolyn Weed and Hall each had four digs.
The second set was very similar to the first as the Eagles jumped out to an early lead. Winthrop compiled 14 kills in the second set as it cruised to a 25-21 set win.
The Eagles started off the third set like the first two by gaining a quick lead, but the Jaguars clawed their way back, forcing a tie at 20-20. The teams continued to trade points and the set was once again in a deadlock at 23-23. A kill from South Alabama's Samia Salomao and an attacking error by Felts gave the Jaguars a 25-23 set win.
In the fourth set, Winthrop dropped the first point, but then took a 3-2 lead and held the lead for the entire set and won the match by taking the set 25-19. The Eagles finished the set with 20 kills and a .400 hitting percentage, compared to USA's 17 kills and .333 hitting percentage. Winthrop had just two unforced errors in the entire set.
"We only had two unforced errors in the final set," head coach Sally Polhamus said. "That's incredible."
Salomao and Juliana Almeida both finished with double-doubles in the match for the Jaguars, as Jenna Hassell led the team in digs with 20.
"It was definitely a well played match with multiple players stepping up," Polhamus said.
In the second match of the day, three Eagles finished with double figures in kills as Viola and Weed posted 11 kills apiece and Felts finished with 10. Harrison led the way in digs in consecutive games as she finished with 13. Viola and Sellers ended the night with 11 and 10 digs, respectively. Hall led the way in assists with 27. Winthrop finished the match with 39 kills, 59 digs and a .213 hitting percentage.
In the first set against Georgia Southern, the teams traded points at the beginning of the set, but GSU's run at the 12-9 mark was too much for the Eagles as they fell in the set, 25-20. Georgia Southern finished the set with 16 kills, compared to 13 for Winthrop.
The second set was even as the biggest lead for both teams was three until the 22-19 mark. GSU went on a 3-1 run to finish the set at 25-20. Georgia Southern compiled 18 kills within the set and totaled its highest hitting percentage of the match at .372.
"Once Georgia Southern took us out of our system," Polhamus added. "It was hard to adjust and find our rhythm."
In the final set, the Eagles held the early advantage, but the host team fought its way back into the match and took an 18-14 lead. Despite a late run by Winthrop, GSU never let up their lead as they took the final set 25-23. The Eagles finished the third set with their highest hitting percentage of the game at .308.
"Our outsides and Sara Felts were able to find ways to score," said Polhamus. "But we had no answers earning zero blocks."
Georgia Southern (6-6) was led by Bethany Sanford who also posted a double-double with her 14 kills and 16 digs. GSU finished the match with a .352 hitting percentage, 52 kills and 64 digs.
"Georgia Southern had too many weapons for us to contain tonight." Polhamus said.
Winthrop will be back in action tomorrow as it concludes play in the SpringHill Suites Invitational against the East Tennessee State Buccaneers at 5 p.m.
