Box Score

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CLINTON, SC – The Winthrop volleyball team closed out the regular season Friday with a four-set victory over the Presbyterian College Blue Hose.

Winthrop finishes the regular season with an 8-6 conference mark and a 14-15 overall record.  Presbyterian falls to 12-17 overall and 9-5 in the conference.

All four sets were hotly contested.  Winthrop took the first set 25-22 fueled by a four-run turning a one-point deficit into a 15-12 lead which the Eagles didn't relinquish.

In the second set Winthrop never allowed Presbyterian to hold a lead, taking the second game 25-21.

Winthrop led most of the way in the third set, but faltered late.  The Blue Hose took their first lead of the set at 21-20 on the way to a 25-23 victory.

Presbyterian looked poised to force a decisive fifth set, leading 23-20, but a yellow card issued to the Winthrop bench seemed to fire up the Eagles as they went on a 4-0 run to go up 24-23.  The Blue Hose were able to force extra points, but Winthrop held strong for a 27-25 victory to win the match 3-1.

Rachel Lenz led three Eagles in double-digit kills with 18 and also had three blocks.  Jennica Mullins added 15 kills and five blocks while Amy Zimmer finished with a career-high 13 kills.  Stephanie Palmer finished with a double-double with 33 assists and 19 digs.  Catherine Brusie led the team with 27 digs, a season high for her.

"I was really proud of our team tonight, especially our freshmen," head coach Julie Torbett said.  "Amy Zimmer and Rachel Lenz did a great job and Jennica Mullins was a wall at the net."

Winthrop will now have to wait until Sunday to find out its seeding for the Big South Tournament as there is still a full slate of conference matches to be played Saturday.  The Big South Tournament will be played at Gardner-Webb University opening with the quarterfinals this Thursday followed by the semi-finals on Friday and the championship on Sunday.