ROCK HILL, SC – The Winthrop volleyball team earned a hard-fought 3-2 victory Tuesday evening over Charleston Southern, earning the team's first conference victory of the season.
With the victory Winthrop snapped a nine-match conference losing skid and improved to 10-15 overall and 1-9 in the Big South. Charleston Southern fell to 11-14 overall and 6-3 in conference.
Emma Weakland led four Eagles in double-digit kills with 18. Brianna Gray and Sammie-Jo Ah-Hong each tallied 11 while Kelsey Schroll finished with 10. Schroll was one of three players with double-doubles as she also tallied 27 digs to lead the team. Hannah Lackey and Siani Yamaguchi each also recorded double-doubles. Yamaguchi finished with 30 assists and 14 digs while Lackey tallied 26 assists and 12 digs. Carlie Skelton finished the night with 25 digs.
Winthrop was able to stave off a late charge from the Buccaneers to win the first set. After going back-and-forth for the majority of the set, the Eagles were able to pull away slightly, late, garnering a 24-20 lead. Charleston Southern was able to take three straight points from the Eagles to get within 24-23 but Winthrop was able to grab the final point to win 25-23.
Charleston Southern grabbed the early advantage in the second set, 8-4. The Eagles battled back on a 12-3 run to take a 16-11 lead. The Buccaneers responded with their own 10-3 run, taking a 21-19 edge. Winthrop regained a 23-21 edge and hit set point at 24-23 but Charleston Southern managed to secure the final three points to take the set 26-24.
Winthrop had a much easier road to victory in the third set. Up only one at 6-5, the Eagles used an 8-2 run to open 14-7 lead and went on to take the set 25-15.
In the fourth set, Charleston Southern came out strong, going up 6-2. Winthrop responded with a 6-1 run, going up 8-7. Another swing ensued as the Buccaneers rallied for an 11-4 run, going up 18-12. The Eagles were able to get back within one at 18-17 but no closer. Charleston Southern hung on for the 25-21 fourth-set victory.
In another roller coaster, Charleston Southern grabbed an early 4-2 lead but saw the Eagles quickly recover to take a 6-4 edge. The Buccaneers were able to tie the set at 7-7 before the Eagles grabbed control and won the set 15-10.
The Eagles will hit the road for their next for matches starting this weekend with a Friday contest at Campbell and a Saturday matchup against High Point.
