CLINTON, SC – The Winthrop volleyball team closed out its regular season Saturday afternoon with a three-set victory over the Presbyterian Blue Hose.
The Eagles finished in a tie for fifth place in the conference standings with Liberty with an 8-8 Big South mark. Liberty earned the fifth seed as the Eagles fell to sixth after working out tiebreakers.
The teams split the season series so the deadlock was determined by percentage of sets won in the two contests. Winthrop won 3-2 at Liberty while the Flames swept the Eagles at the Winthrop Coliseum, taking a total of five sets to Winthrop's three (62.5%).
The Big South Tournament will be contested at the Dedmon Center on the campus of Radford University Nov. 17-19. Winthrop will take on the third-seeded Campbell Camels at 7 p.m. Thursday.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The two sides were even through the opening 20 points of the first set before Winthrop went on a quick 5-1 spurt, taking a 15-11 edge. The Blue Hose were able to stay within striking distance, trailing by only three at 20-17 but the Eagles were able to close the set on a 5-0 run to take the set 25-17.
Presbyterian jumped out to the early lead in the second set, leading 10-5. Winthrop slowly chipped away at the deficit and trailed 16-13 before going on an 8-1 run, to grab a 21-17 advantage. The Blue Hose got back within one at 23-22 but a kill from Phoebe Wu and a service ace from Hannah Lackey propelled Winthrop to the 25-22 second-set victory.
The third set was another back-and-forth battle. Winthrop led 14-10 before Presbyterian battled back on an 11-3 run, to take a 21-17 lead. Presbyterian continued to hold a 23-19 edge but couldn't put the set away. Winthrop was able to take seven of the next eight points to take the third set 26-24 and the match 3-0.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Phoebe Wu led all hitters with 22 kills on 46 attacks and only three errors for a .413 attack percentage. She notched a double-double by also adding 13 digs. Sydney Gunter was the next best hitter for the Eagles, totaling seven kills. Siani Yamaguchi recorded a double-double with 33 assists and 11 digs.
