Box Score
ROCK HILL, SC – The Winthrop volleyball team had four players with double-digit kills Tuesday as the Eagles battled for a tough five-set victory over the Aggies of North Carolina A&T.
With the victory Winthrop improved to 4-0 on the season while the Aggies fell to 0-4.
This was the 20th all-time meeting between the Eagles and Aggies and the first time that North Carolina A&T had ever won more than one set. Prior to Tuesday's match the Aggies had only taken four sets total over the previous 19 meetings.
Winthrop came out with an uninspired performance in the first set. The offensive power that the Eagles showed over the weekend was not evident. Winthrop hit -.075 en route to dropping the first set 25-17, having never led.
The offensive power returned in the second set as the Eagles hit .406. The two teams battled back and forth through 10 tied scores and six lead changes. Winthrop was able to control late in the set to take the second set 25-21.
Winthrop was in much more control in the third set. North Carolina A&T led briefly in the third set at 2-1 and were tied with the Eagles at 6-6. The Eagles then went on a 5-0 run to grab an 11-6 advantage. Winthrop led 19-15 before taking the final six points of the set to take a 25-15 victory.
The Eagles looked to be in total control early in the fourth set, jumping out to a 9-2 lead. The Aggies slowly cut into the Winthrop lead and eventually tied the match at 17-17. The Eagles held a slim 20-19 lead but North Carolina A&T then took five straight to go up 24-20 and took the fourth set 25-21.
Winthrop again came out strong to start the fifth set, grabbing an early 6-2 advantage. The Aggies got within three at 9-6, but couldn't get any closer as the Eagles wen ton to win 15-9.
Four Eagles finished with double-digit kills. Jackie Landers led the team with 16 while Rachel Lenz followed closely with 15. Emma Weakland finished with 12 in her first extended action of the season and Brianna Gray finished with 11. Jessie Vicic finished the night with 59 assists and 14 digs for her first double-double of the season while Maria Volstad added 21 digs and Alina Sopizhuk had 16.
Winthrop hit .189 for the match after a .667 performance in the fifth set. The Eagles finished with 66 kills, 61 assists, 70 digs and six total team blocks.
The Eagles will head on the road this weekend to participate in the Big Orange Bash hosted by Clemson University. Winthrop will face Furman Friday at 4:00 p.m. followed by Clemson at 10:00 a.m. and South Carolina at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday.
