Rock Hill, SC – The Eagles played a tight fifth set but could not come out on top of Presbyterian College, losing two sets to three. The loss drops the Eagles to 2-2 in conference and 6-10 overall. The Blue Hose are now 3-1 and 4-12.

How It Happened
In the first set the two teams exchanged the first 12 points until the Blue Hose took a 6-7 lead they would not let go of. An 0-4 scoring run would put them up by as many as six points at 10-16. The Eagles fought back into the set eventually tying notching the score at 24-24. Sydney Gunter led the comeback with five kills and Hannah Lackey had 8 digs. The Blue Hose would score the next two points by a Lauren Talbert kill and a Sierra Jones ace to win the first set 24-26.

In the second set the teams once again went point for point with each other until a kill by Lily Leistiko would give them the final lead, 17-16. A 6-0 scoring run featuring two kills and two service aces would secure a 25-18 set victory.

After beginning the third set down 1-4, the Eagles went on another late scoring run (4-0) to win the third set 25-21. Gunter had three kills late in the set to help seal the victory.
Gunter picked up two back to back kills in the beginning of the fourth to give the Eagles a 2-0 lead. From there, neither team could secure a lead going point for point up until a kill from Phoebe Wu tied the set at 23 all. A kill from Sydney De Jong and a Winthrop error would give the Blue Hose the 23-25 set lead and tie the match at 2 sets a piece.

In the fifth set the Eagles jumped off to another quick 2-0 until an attack error by Sydney Gunter and a kill from Allie Wright tied the score 2-2. Mini runs of 2 points eventually allowed the Eagles to take a 9-6 lead. The Blue Hose battled back to tie the match 13-13. The Blue Hose thought they won the match 15-13 but the officials missed a four-touch play on the Presbyterian side, returned the point, tying the fifth set 14-14. The Eagles scored on a kill from Makayla Doyle, but Presbyterian answered with a kill from Erin Cooke. Both sides exchanged kills until two Presbyterian kills would end the fifth set thriller 18-20.

Wu had a standout game with 16 kills (.310), 20 digs, 3 blocks, and 2 service aces. Gunter had a match high 18 kills and in her debut game as libero, Lackey recorded 19 digs. Presbyterian was led by Cooke who tallied 16 kills (.406), 22 assists, and 14 digs. Libero Daley Gosnell added in a match high 22 digs.
 
Up Next
The Eagles play will be back at home tomorrow for a 2:00 p.m. match against Charleston Southern University.