ROCK HILL, SC – Senior Brianna Gray set a program attack percentage record Thursday evening as the Winthrop volleyball team downed the Presbyterian Blue Hose 3-1 for the team's sixth straight victory.
The Eagles improved to 15-16 overall and 6-9 in the conference with the victory while Presbyterian fell to 3-12 in the Big South and 5-25 overall.
With the win, the Eagles still hold their Big South Tournament hopes in their own hands. With a victory on Saturday over UNC Asheville, Winthrop will qualify for next week's tournament. The Eagles and Bulldogs will meet at the Winthrop Coliseum Saturday at 1 p.m.
Gray finished with an .800 attack percentage which set the program's four-set match record. Gray totaled 16 kills with no errors on 20 total attacks. Gray also added six blocks. Emma Weakland finished with 15 kills in the victory. Siani Yamaguchi and Hannah Lackey each recorded double-doubles. Yamaguchi totaled 27 assists and 13 digs while Lackey contributed 18 assists and 16 digs. Carlie Skelton led the Eagles with 20 digs.
Presbyterian came out strong to start the opening set, jumping out to a quick 4-0 lead. Winthrop still trailed by four at 9-5 but a 4-0 run tied the set at 9-9. After trading a few points, the Eagles slowly started to pull away and took the first set 25-21.
Winthrop grabbed the early lead in the second set, going up 7-1. The Eagles were able to continue with a five-point edge to 19-14 before Presbyterian made a charge to get within one at 19-18. Winthrop increased its lead back to three only to see the Blue Hose make another comeback, this time tying the set at 23-23. The Eagles weathered Presbyterian's charge and grabbed the final two points to win the set 25-23.
Presbyterian ensured the match would be extended with a dominating performance in the third set. The Blue Hose jumped out to an 11-3 lead and never allowed the Eagles to back within fewer than six points. Presbyterian took the third set 25-17.
After a competitive start to the fourth set that saw the two sides tied 10-10, Presbyterian went on an 8-2 run to open an 18-12 advantage. Winthrop rallied on a 7-1 run to tie the set at 19-19. The two sides then went back and forth on the next eight points and were still tied 23-23 before the Eagles were able to take the final two points for the 25-23 victory.
