ASHEVILLE, NC – The Winthrop volleyball had its lowest offensive performance of the season Friday, as the Eagles fell 3-1 to the UNC Asheville Bulldogs on the road in Big South action.

The Eagles fell to 10-8 overall and 1-3 in the conference with the loss while UNC Asheville improved to 10-9 overall and evened its record at 2-2 in the Big South.

In the first set Winthrop led 2-0 early, but UNC Asheville quickly took its first lead and then didn't give it back.  Despite not relinquishing the lead, the Bulldogs and Eagles were tied at 19-19 before UNC Asheville closed the first set on a 6-1 run, winning the first set 25-20.

Winthrop responded well in the second set.  After giving up the early lead the Eagles battled back.  The Bulldogs led 12-11, but three consecutive points by the Eagles forced UNC Asheville to take a timeout.  The break was inefficient in sparking the Bulldogs as Winthrop was able to maintain its lead throughout the rest of the set, winning 25-19.

The momentum was quickly swinging Winthrop's way at the beginning of the third set.  After the Bulldogs took the early 2-0 lead, the Eagles battled back with a 9-2 run.  Winthrop was able to maintain its lead and led by seven at 20-13 before errors started to plague the Eagles.  Winthrop's lead was cut to two at 23-21, but the Eagles did gain set point at 24-21.  Three errors by the Eagles and a kill from UNC Asheville gave the Bulldogs a 4-0 run and set point at 25-24.  The back and forth continued and the teams were tied at 29-29 before the Bulldogs pulled out the final two points to take the third set 31-29.

Winthrop again jumped out to the early lead in the fourth set, 7-3, only to see it slip away.  The Bulldogs chipped away at the Eagle lead and took their first at 11-10.  UNC Asheville increased its lead to 18-12, forcing Winthrop into a timeout.  The break did little to slow down the Bulldogs as they went on to take the fourth set 25-15.

Irene Ojukwu led all hitters with 18 kills and finished with a .238 hitting percentage and five total blocks, accounting for 20.5 points.  Alina Sopizhuk also added 13 kills.  Jessie Vicic recorded her ninth double-double of the season with 47 assists and 14 digs.

Winthrop will continue with its road swing on Saturday with a 2 p.m. contest against the Gardner-Webb Bulldogs.