CLINTON, SC – The Winthrop volleyball team fell in straight sets Friday evening on the road to the Presbyterian College Blue Hose in Big South action.

The Eagles fell to 10-7 overall and 1-2 in the conference with the loss while Presbyterian improved to 5-13 overall and 3-0 in the Big South.

The two teams battled back and forth through the first 20 points of the first set and were even at 10-10.  After a quick 4-1 run by the Blue Hose and a subsequent response by the Eagles, the two teams again started trading points.  Presbyterian led by only one at 20-19 but limited the Eagles to only two more points en route to the 25-21 first-set victory.

Presbyterian took the early lead in the second set and reached its largest advantage at 15-10.  Winthrop slowly chipped away at the deficit and eventually tied the set at 19-19.  The Eagles took their first lead of the set at 19-18, but it was a brief advantage.  The two sides were again tied at 22-22 before the Blue Hose closed the set on a 3-1 run to go up 2-0.

Again in the third set the Eagles and Blue Hose went back and forth.  The two teams were tied at 16-16 before Presbyterian went on a 5-1 run to go up 21-17.  Winthrop continued to trail by four at 23-19 and picked up two quick points to get within 23-21.  The Blue Hose had match point at 24-21 and the Eagles were able to stave off two points before falling 25-23.

Alina Sopizhuk led the Eagles offensively with 10 kills.  Irene Ojuwku and Rachel Lenz each tallied nine kills while Ojukwu also added four total blocks.  Jessie Vicic finished with 35 total assists.

The Eagles will now be off until Friday, October 11 when they head to UNC Asheville for a 7 p.m. meeting with the Bulldogs.