Rock Hill, S.C. – Winthrop volleyball swept the Presbyterian Blue Hose in its home finale, 25-20, 25-17 and 25-19. The Eagles improve to 9-5 and finish with a 7-1 record at home.
 
KEY CONTRIBUTORS
Nikkia Benitez (28 attacks, 10 kills, 20 digs)
Morgan Bossler (.438 hitting percentage, 9 kills, 5.0 blocks)
Jana Owen (30 assists, 13 digs)
Leah Metzger (15 digs)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The first set was the closest of the afternoon. The Eagles and Blue Hose battled, seeing nine ties and four lead changes. After taking an early 5-2 lead in Set 1, the Eagles committed back-to-back attack errors, allowing PC to tie things up at six. The Eagles and Blue Hose exchanged 3-0 runs but Winthrop hung on to the 10-9 edge. Winthrop blew the match open with an 8-2 run late, pulling ahead 22-16. The Blue Hose hung around but Winthrop ultimately won the set, 25-20.
 
Winthrop jumped out to an 8-4 lead over PC in the second set. Back-to-back points for the Blue Hose brought them within two of tying the contest up, but a 7-2 run for the home team gave them a 15-8 cushion. Three consecutive points for the Blue Hose kept them within striking distance, 15-11. Winthrop would string together another 3-0 run, capped off by a monster Nikkia Benitez kill to jump ahead of the Blue Hose, 18-11. Winthrop would go on to win the set, 25-17.
 
Three-consecutive errors for Winthrop gave PC an early one-point edge, 3-2. The Eagles responded with a 5-0 run of its own to take an 8-5 lead, a lead they would hang on to until the end of the set. Winthrop strung together five runs of two or more consecutive points to win the set, 25-19, and the match, 3-0.
 
UP NEXT
Winthrop will finish off the 2020-21 season on the road at UNC Asheville on Mar. 30-31. First serve is scheduled for 4 p.m. on Tuesday evening and 3 p.m. Wednesday evening.