Rock Hill, S.C. – Morgan Bossler had a game-high 12 kills to lead Winthrop to a fourth straight win after defeating East Tennessee State 3-0, Friday evening in non-conference volleyball action.
Winthrop (4-3) | ETSU (2-5)
Sept. 10, 2021 | Winthrop Coliseum
Winthrop 3, ETSU 0 (25-20, 25-22, 25-18)
How it Happened
Set 1 | Eagles scored the first three points and led 4-1. The early run was highlighted by kills from
Brookelynn Thomas and Lil Leistiko. ETSU fought back to tie the game at 7-7. Eagles and Buccaneers traded points over the next few series and the set was tied again at 12-12. Winthrop used a 6-1 run to open up an 18-13 lead, scoring four straight points behind the service of
Karli Shepherd. Winthrop continued to hold a consistent 4-5 point lead the remainder of the way and took the set 25-20. The Eagles hit .385 as a team as Thomas led the way with seven kills (.545 hitting percentage).
Set 2 | ETSU opened the second set with a 9-1 run, which was capped off by some misfires by the Eagles with four straight attack errors. Winthrop settled down and chipped away at the lead. Trailing 11-3,
Morgan Bossler's kill sparked a 5-0 run to pull within three points. The Eagles were able to get back and tie the game at 12-12 thanks to some hustle plays defensively. The Buccaneers were able to keep the Eagles from gaining a lead and even opened up a 19-16 advantage and then 20-17. Following a service error by McKenna Dietz (ETSU) the Eagles reeled off seven of the next eight points to lead 23-21. Trailing by a point at 21-20,
Nikkia Benitez had back-to-back kills for the lead. Winthrop went on to win the set 25-22 as Benitez led the team with five kills.
Madison Gorniak led the team with five digs in the set.
Set 3 | The set began with a service ace from
Jana Owens but neither could establish a lead in the early going. The game was tied 6-6 when the Eagles took the lead. It was a lead they never relinquished the remainder of the set. It was a one point game at 11-10 but Winthrop continued to have success at the net as Thomas and Shepherd had back-to-back kills for a 13-10 lead and then the lead eventually grew to 18-13. The Eagles took the set 25-18 for the win.
Alayna Jansky had a team-high seven digs in the set while Bossler led the way with four kills.
Statistical Standouts
- Morgan Bossler (12 kills, .600 hitting percentage, assist, dig, 3 block assists, 14.5 points)
- Brookelynn Thomas (11 kills, .222 hitting percentage)
- Nikkia Benitez (8 kills, assist, 5 digs, block solo, block assist)
- Jana Owens (kill, 40 assists, 2 aces, 11 digs, 2 block assists)
Notes
- Eagles have now won four straight with three of the wins come away from their home floor
- Eagles have now won their last three home openers and four of the last six
- Morgan Bossler surpassed 500 kills in her Winthrop career (503), bringing her collegiate total to 1,043
- Owens is nearing 700 career assists (689)
- Had four players in double-figures for digs with Owens (11), Jansky (12), Gorniak (12) and Leah Metzger (14)
Up Next
Winthrop and ETSU will square off again on Saturday, Sept. 11 at 2 p.m.
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