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WINSTON-SALEM, NC – The Winthrop volleyball team won the Deacon Classic Saturday as the Eagles downed Elon and Western Carolina each in a 3-0 sweep.

Senior Jessie Vicic was named the tournament's MVP as the Eagles improved to 9-6 overall.  Senior Alina Sopizhuk and freshman Keaupono Fey were both also named to the All-Tournament Team.

In the first match of the day against the Elon Phoenix, Winthrop was led by Alina Sopizhuk who tallied 12 kills while freshman Nikki Drost finished with nine.  Junior Rachel Lenz totaled eight kills and five total blocks.  Jessie Vicic notched a double-double with 20 assists and 13 digs.

Winthrop never trailed in the first set against the Phoenix.  The Eagles grabbed an early 5-1 lead and Elon was never able to get closer than two points as Winthrop took the first set 25-20.

The Eagles played from behind briefly in the second set, falling behind 3-1.  Winthrop then went on an 11-3 run to open a 12-6 advantage.  The Eagles slowly built upon that lead en route to taking the second set 25-14.

In the third and final set, Winthrop used a 10-2 run midway through the set to turn a two-point deficit into a 20-14 lead.  Following the run, the Eagles cruised to the 25-19 set victory.

The Eagles hit .343 against Elon on 44 kills and only 10 errors over the three sets.  The Eagles totaled 42 assists, 53 digs and eight total team blocks.

Sopizhuk again led the Eagles offensively against the Western Carolina Catamounts, finishing with 14 kills and a .323 hitting percentage.  Nikki Drost tallied 10 kills while Brianna Gray added nine and Keaupono Fey eight.  Vicic recorded her second double-double of the day with 21 assists and 10 digs.

The first set between the Catamounts and the Eagles was a back-and-forth battle.  Winthrop grabbed an early three-point edge only to see it go back to Western Carolina.  Late in the set the two squads were tied at 18-18 before the Eagles were able to pull away slightly.  Winthrop hit set point at 24-21 but the Catamounts fought off two set points before Drost was able to put away the set-winning point.

Winthrop looked to be in full control of the second set early, leading 6-1.  The Eagles continued to lead by five at 10-5 when Western Carolina slowly cut down the Winthrop advantage.  The Catamounts used a 6-1 run to take a 17-16 lead.  After a 20-20 tie, Winthrop went on a 4-1 run to reach set point but Western Carolina again fought off two before the Eagles put the set away on a kill from Fey.

In the third set, Winthrop used another big run to open a lead.  The Eagles led by only one before a 7-1 run gave Winthrop a 16-9 advantage.  Western Carolina was unable to make any sort of a comeback as the Eagles increased their lead to as much as nine en route to the 25-18 third-set victory.

Winthrop hit .254 against the Catamounts with 50 kills and 45 assists.  The Eagles totaled 51 digs, three service aces and six total team blocks.

The Eagles will now open conference play next weekend with a pair of road contests.  Winthrop will head to Coastal Carolina on Friday, September 26 and Charleston Southern on Saturday, September 27.