Spartanburg, SC – The Eagles come away with the win in the first Big South Conference show down at USC Upstate (25-27, 25-22, 25-23, 25-22). This win moves the Eagles to 4-2 in conference play and 8-10 overall. The Spartans drop to 1-4 and 5-14.

How It Happened
The Eagles were paced by Lou Rosario the whole match, she began with eight kills in the first set and hit at a clip of .583. The Eagles trailed by four points at 16-12 but a scoring spurt notched the score at 19-19. At 23-20 USC Upstate, Coach Rey issues a challenge card to review a missed net violation against the Spartans. Winthrop won the challenge switching the score to 22-21 and a kill from Rosario would keep them within one, 23-22. A kill from Phoebe Wu would tie the set 25-25 but the Spartans would win the next two points to take the first set 27-25.

The two teams exchanged points until at 7-7 the Eagles went on a 3-0 lead to go up 10-7. After an ace serve from Hannah Lackey, Upstate called their first timeout of the set. Wu answered the timeout with a kill to push the score 11-8. The Eagles were up 23-17 before allowing the Spartans to get within two points, 24-22. Another kill from Wu would seal the win for the Eagles and tie the match at one set a piece.

The third set began with tough serving from Siani Yamaguchi and the Eagles jumped to a quick 6-2 lead. Two back to back kill from Rosario gave the Eagles a 6 point lead, 16-10, but once again the Spartans fought their way back in the set getting within two points, 22-20. Yamaguchi came up with a big kill at 23-21 and a Spartan serving error and Rosario kill finished out the set 25-23.

The fourth set was close the whole way through with highlight plays from Rosario and Sydney Gunter. Both pounded away big kills and Carlie Skelton delivered on some big defensive plays. In the last four points of the match Rosario had two kills and a huge stuff block and Gunter added a kill and block of her own. A kill from Annie Sandlin put the match away 25-22.

The Eagles were led by Rosario with 23 kills (.419), 12 digs, 3 aces and Makayla Doyle and Gunter added 16 kills (.344 and .419).  

Up Next
The Eagles head north to the University of North Carolina Asheville for a 2:00 p.m. match against the Bulldogs.