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DURHAM, NC – The Winthrop volleyball team pulled out a thrilling five-set victory Friday in its season-opening match over the Hampton University Pirates in the 2012 North Carolina Central Volleyball Invitational.

“I'm happy with the win,” head coach Julie Torbett said.  “We all know that we have work to do to get better, but it was good to see our competitiveness tonight to grit out a five-set victory."

Winthrop came out very strong to start the first set, jumping out to a 7-1 lead.  Hampton fought back to get within three at 12-9, but a 6-3 run by the Eagles, opened an 18-12 advantage.  Winthrop was able to hold off a late charge from the Pirates to take the first set 25-20.

The Eagles were unable to find a rhythm in the second set.  Neither team was able to gather a real edge before Hampton took a slim 18-15 lead.  Winthrop got back within 20-19 before the Pirates took the last five points to take the second set 25-19.  Hampton took the momentum of its second-set victory into the third as it rolled over the Eagles 25-12 to take a 2-1 set lead.

Winthrop was not going away quietly as the Eagles forced a decisive fifth set with a 25-21 fourth-set victory.  After an even opening 20 points of the fourth set, Winthrop opened a slim 18-14 lead and once again staved off a Pirate attack to take the fourth set.

Hampton came out the aggressor to start the fifth set, taking an early 7-4 lead, but the young Winthrop team persevered to come back and tie the set at 9-9.  The two teams remained tied at 11-11, before the Eagles took the final four points of the match behind the serve of sophomore Jennica Mullins.

Winthrop was led by junior Stephanie Palmer who finished the match with a triple-double with 13 kills, 26 assists and 10 digs.  Senior Carolyn Weed led the Eagles with 17 kills while sophomore Catherine Brusie finished with 17 digs.  Sophomore Jennica Mullins had a stellar night defensively, totaling three solo blocks and three block assists.

The Eagles hit .262 for the match with 55 kills, 50 assists, 12 service aces, 63 digs and eight team blocks.  Hampton finished with a .270 hitting percentage with 59 kills, 51 assists, 61 digs and three team blocks.

“It was great to see Carolyn with such a great offensive match,” Torbett said.  “Stephanie Palmer, starting the season with a triple-double was definitely a huge spark for the team.”

The Eagles will return to the court for two matches on Saturday, beginning with a 2:30 p.m. contest against the Bradley Braves while finishing the tournament with a 5:30 p.m. match against the host Eagles of NC Central University.