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ROCK HILL, SC – Four Eagles notched double-digit kills Friday as the Winthrop volleyball team grabbed a 3-1 victory over the UNC Asheville Bulldogs inside the Winthrop Coliseum.

Winthrop improved to 13-7 overall and 3-1 in the Big South with the victory while Asheville fell to 3-16 overall and 0-4 in the conference.

Junior Rachel Lenz led the Eagles with 13 kills and totaled five blocks.  Senior Alina Sopizhuk and sophomore Brianna Gray each tallied 12 kills while freshman Nikki Drost finished with 11 kills.  Freshman Keaupono Fey also tallied eight kills and a .353 attack percentage.  Sophomore Kelly Scott finished with 52 assists while sophomore Maria Volstad totaled 23 digs.

In the first set, Winthrop used a big 10-2 run to turn a 4-4 tie into a 14-6 advantage for the Eagles.  Asheville went on a mini 5-1 run to get back within four at 15-11, but couldn't get any closer as the Eagles won the set 25-13, closing on a 7-0 run.

Winthrop had to work a bit harder to pull out the second-set victory.  Leading by only three at 10-7, the Eagles went on a 5-1 run to open a 15-8 edge.  The Bulldogs were able to battle back to get within three at 20-17 but a quick 3-0 spurt by Winthrop put an end to the Asheville rally as the Eagles took the second set 25-20.

In the third set Winthrop trailed for the first time in the match.  After the Eagles grabbed the early 4-1 edge, Asheville fought back to take a 7-6 advantage.  The teams traded leads before Asheville was able to edge away, taking a 14-11 lead.

The Bulldogs remained in the lead as the teams traded points, and continued to hold a 22-19 advantage.  Winthrop came storming back on a 4-0 run, taking a 23-22 edge.  Asheville tied the set again at 23-23 before Brianna Gray's kill gave the Eagles set point at 24-23.  After a Bulldog timeout, Asheville survived two set points and was able to get a 26-25 lead forcing Winthrop to take a timeout.  The Eagles fought off one set point but couldn't make it two as the Bulldogs took the third set 28-26.

Winthrop struggled at the beginning of the fourth set, falling behind 7-1.  The Eagles didn't stay down long, responding with a 9-2 run to take a 10-9 edge, forcing Asheville into a timeout.  The break didn't stop the bleeding as the Eagles increased their lead to 15-11. 

Asheville was able to eventually respond with a 5-0 run, taking a 16-15 edge and increasing it to 18-16.  Down two, the Eagles went on a big 6-1 run and didn't look back, winning the fourth set 25-20.

Winthrop finished with 63 kills and a .189 hitting percentage with 53 assists.  The Eagles totaled eight service aces, 70 digs and 10 total team blocks.

Winthrop will remain at home on Saturday, hosting the Gardner-Webb Bulldogs at 2 p.m. inside the Winthrop Coliseum.