WinthropPhotos.com

ROCK HILL, SC – Sophomore Jennica Mullins set a single-match blocks record Friday and the Winthrop volleyball team picked up two big victories over North Carolina A&T and Mercer on the first day of the Winthrop Classic.

In the second match of the day for the Eagles, Mullins recorded 12 total blocks against the Bears, setting a Winthrop record in a three-set match, breaking the old mark of nine set back in 2003 by Lindsey Remmers.

“It was great to see Jennica back to playing the way she can,” head coach Julie Torbett said.  “She can be a real force for us at the net.”

In the second match of the evening, the Eagles easily took the first set from the Mercer Bears.  After going up 5-2, the Winthrop extended its lead to as much as nine at 16-7.  Mercer pulled back a few points late in the set but the Eagles were able to come away with a 25-17 first-set victory.

The second set looked to easily be going the way of the Eagles, but the Bears fought back hard.  The two teams were tied 6-6 before Winthrop went on a 5-1 run to go up 11-7.  The Eagles extended their lead to 17-11 before Mercer went on a 9-1 run to take a 20-18 lead.  The Eagles bent but didn't break as Winthrop held strong and came back to tie the set at 23-23 before taking the final two points to win the second set 25-23.

The Eagles had little trouble with the Bears in the final set.  Winthrop jumped out to an early 6-1 lead, but Mercer fought back to get within 7-5, but that was as close as it got.  Winthrop took the final set 25-14.

Mullins led the Eagles with her 12 total blocks and also added four kills.  Kristin Cruse led the Eagles with eight kills while Stephanie Palmer also added seven.  Palmer also led in assists with 21 and Monica Cardona led in digs with 17.

In the first match of the day, the Eagles took on the North Carolina A&T Aggies.  After a tight start to the first set that had the teams tied 6-6, the Eagles went on a 10-3 run to open a 16-9 advantage over the Aggies.  Winthrop allowed NC A&T only six more points over the remainder of the first set and took the opening game 25-15.

Winthrop continued its momentum into the second set, jumping out to a 9-1 lead and after an Aggie point, went on another 9-0 run to open an 18-2 lead.  NC A&T was able to pick up a few points toward the end of the second set, but the lead was insurmountable.  Winthrop took the second set 25-8.  With the eight points allowed, it was the first time a Winthrop volleyball team held an opponent under 10 points in a set since the NCAA started scoring sets to only 25 points.

The Eagles started the third set strong again, jumping out to a 7-2 edge.  The Aggies got back as close as 8-6, but another Winthrop run sent the Eagles off to a 16-7 advantage.  Winthrop closed out the Aggies 25-17 in the third set to take the match 3-0.

Rachel Lenz led the Eagles with nine kills while Jennica Mullins had eight and Carolyn Weed had seven.  Mullins and Weed had solid offensive nights, hitting .538 and .545 respectively.  Stephanie Palmer led Winthrop with 16 assists and Catherine Bruise led the team with 15 digs.

“Overall we were very happy to be back playing at home and to get some wins under our belt,” Torbett said.  “Tomorrow's matches will be a bit tougher, but we're going to be ready for them.”

The Eagles will continue in their tournament Saturday with matches against the North Florida Ospreys at 3 p..m and the Western Carolina Catamounts at 7 p.m.