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ROCK HILL, SC – The Winthrop volleyball team split two matches Saturday on the final day of the Winthrop Classic, falling to North Florida and defeating Western Carolina.

In the second match of the day the Eagles defeated the Western Carolina Catamounts 3-0.  The first set was a back-and-forth battle.  Through the first 20 points neither team were able to gain a real advantage as the Eagles only had a maximum lead of three points.  With the score tied 14-14, Western Carolina started a 5-1 run to open a 19-15 edge.  Winthrop battled back to tie the set at 20-20 and then took five of the final seven points to take the first set 25-22.

The Eagles opened a big 5-0 lead to start the second set but Winthrop had to fight off a hard-charging Catamount squad.  Western Carolina got back within one at 11-10 before Winthrop was able to open a 17-12 edge.  The Eagles had set point at 24-20, but Western Carolina was about to fight off four set points and tie the game at 24-24.  Winthrop had three more set points before finally being able to put away the Catamounts 28-26.

After a tight opening to the third set, Winthrop was again able to open a lead.  The Eagles opened a 17-12 lead and this time did not allow Western Carolina an opportunity to come back as the Eagles took the final set 25-19 and the match 3-0.

Jennica Mullins led the Eagles with 13 kills and also led the team in blocks with seven total.  Rachel Lenz also finished with 11 kills.  Stephanie Palmer led Winthrop with 40 assists while Catherine Bruise finished with 18 digs.

Winthrop struggled offensively in the first game of the day, falling to the North Florida Ospreys 3-0.  North Florida dominated the first set.  The Eagles trailed by only two at 11-9, but a quick 4-0 spurt by the Ospreys opened a 15-9 advantage.  Winthrop managed only four more points over the remainder of the set as North Florida took the second set 25-13.

The Eagles stepped up their game in the second set and led the Ospreys for the majority of the set.  Late in the set, Winthrop had match point at 24-20, but couldn't put away North Florida to square the match.  The Ospreys rattled off six-straight points to take the second set 26-24.

The wind was out of the sails of the Eagles in the third set.  Winthrop led 6-5, but North Florida went on another important run, this time 6-0 to go up 11-6.  North Florida extended its lead to 20-10 before putting away the set 25-14 and the match 3-0.

Rachel Lenz led the Eagles with 11 kills while Stephanie Palmer led the team with 24 assists and Catherine Bruise finished with 21 digs.

Winthrop landed two players on the All-Tournament Team.  Jennica Mullins and Catherine Brusie joined six others on the All-Tournament Team.  The full All-Tournament Team is listed below.

Winthrop will next start Big South Conference play as the Eagles head to Conway, SC on Friday, September 21 to face the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers at 7:00 p.m.

All-Tournament Team
MVP—Nicole Baran—UNF
Anna Budinaker—UNF
Britt Claussens—UNF
Jennica Mullins—Winthrop
Catherine Brusie—Winthrop
Emily Rochefort—Mercer
Morgan Cochrane—WCU
Andrea Evans—NC A&T