BUIES CREEK, N.C. – Notching their seventh straight win in the process, Winthrop cruised into the Big South Tournament semifinals with a four-set win over Presbyterian Friday afternoon.
Winthrop (18-9) | Presbyterian (12-15)
Nov. 19, 2021 | Gore Arena
Winthrop 3, Presbyterian 1 (25-18, 23-25, 25-15, 25-22)
How it Happened
Set 1 | Winthrop took an early 5-2 lead on a
Nikkia Benitez kill. The Blue Hose came roaring back and took a 7-6 lead, setting the stage for a back and forth first set. With the period tied at eight, the Eagles went on a 4-0 run. Presbyterian fought back to within 13-12, but Winthrop won four consecutive points to extend their lead. The Eagles steadily pulled away down the stretch and another Benitez kill secured the 25-18 victory.
Set 2 | Just like the first stanza, the Eagles took a 5-2 lead. Once again, Presbyterian played hard and tied the match at eight, but Winthrop won three straight points to seize the lead back. Later, with the teams having traded points and the Eagles leading 17-14, the Blue Hose went on a 4-0 run and took an 18-17 lead, later stretching it to 22-18. Winthrop did not go away quietly and tied the set at 23 on a kill from
Karli Shepherd, but Presbyterian won the final two points to knot the match at one set apiece.
Set 3 | The Eagles, still smarting from the second-set defeat, came out with a vengeance and won the first seven points of the third set. Presbyterian battled hard and eventually got the score back to 12-6, but Winthrop won five of six points to go up 17-7. The Blue Hose did work the score back to 20-13 on a service ace before the Eagles took five of the last seven points for a 25-15 win and a 2-1 lead.
Set 4 | Fighting for their season, Presbyterian took an early 3-1 lead, but Winthrop won four of five points to go ahead by a 5-4 margin. The Blue Hose countered with a 4-0 run to lead 8-5, but the Eagles stormed back and knotted the period at 11 apiece. Later, with the score tied at 13, Winthrop won four straight points to seize control of the match. Presbyterian did get within one point on multiple occasions, but a 4-0 run gave the Eagles a 22-17 lead that they would not relinquish. An attack error from the Blue Hose sealed the deal and sent Winthrop into Saturday's semifinals.
Statistical Standouts
- Nikkia Benitez (14 kills, 15 digs, two service aces, one block)
- Karli Shepherd (13 kills, eight digs, one service ace)
- Brookelynn Thomas (11 kills, six blocks, two digs)
- Morgan Bossler (eight kills, six blocks, two service aces, one dig)
- Jana Owens (39 assists, 15 digs, two blocks, one kill)
Up Next
Winthrop will take on second-seeded Campbell on Saturday, Nov. 20 at 4:30 p.m., with the winner advancing to the Big South title match.
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