Clinton, S.C. – Winthrop rallied on the road for the second consecutive match and handing Presbyterian their first conference loss by a final score of 3-2 (25-23, 20-25, 25-27, 25-21, 15-9).
Winthrop (5-11, 4-1 Big South) | Presbyterian (6-10, 4-1 Big South)
Oct. 7, 2023 | Ross E. Templeton Center
Winthrop 3, Presbyterian 2 (25-23, 20-25, 25-27, 25-21, 15-9)
How it Happened
Set 1 | Winthrop jumped out to a big 11-3 lead to start the night, with
Avery Jolley notching three kills out of Winthrop's 11 early points. Presbyterian responded with three straight points but an error by the Blue Hose and two Jolley kills took the lead back to eight at 14-6. The Blue Hose then went on a 10-2 run to tie the set at 16 but the Eagles finished the first set by scoring nine of the last 16 points. The closing run started with kills by
Rachel McCollum and
Brookelynn Thomas and an ace by
Rylie McMahen to take a 19-16 lead. After PC cut it to one on the next two plays, Winthrop scored five of the next seven points to go up 24-20.
Isabella Murray capped off the small rally with an ace. This put the Eagles within one point of taking the first set. PC did not go away, scoring the next three points to cut it to a one-point game but Jolley's kill on the next play gave the Eagles a 1-0 lead in the match.
Set 2 | The Eagles started the second set with a 5-0 lead only to see the Blue Hose score four of the next five points to cut the lead to two at 6-4. Winthrop answered with a kill by Thomas and an ace by
Alyah Cadavid to give Winthrop their largest lead of the set at 8-4. However, it was all PC for the rest of the set, going on a 12-3 run to give them the lead at 16-11. After Winthrop cut it to two on the next two plays on two PC service errors and an ace by
Madison Gorniak, the Blue Hose then scored six of the next eight points to seize a six-point margin at 23-17. Winthrop fought back to make it 23-20 with three straight points but two more points by PC tied the match at one.
Set 3 | The two teams split the first eight points to begin the third frame but Winthrop went on a 10-4 run to take a 14-8 lead midway through the third.
Teagan Sychterz led the way for the Eagles during the run with three kills. The Blue Hose then went on a 9-4 run of their own to cut the lead to 18-17 only to have Winthrop answer right back with three straight points to go up 21-17 on two kills by
Riley Oglevie and another Gorniak ace. PC rallied to take a 24-22 lead by scoring seven of the next eight points to make it set point in favor of them but Winthrop tied it at 24 on a kill by Thomas and an ace by Jolley. PC regained the lead on the next play but a kill by Thomas tied it again. The comeback in the third set for the Eagles was not to be as the Blue Hose scored the next two points to take a 2-1 lead in the match.
Set 4 | Winthrop found themselves down 7-5 before five straight points put them out in front 10-7. Sychterz had two kills and Murray had two straight aces to account for Winthrop's five points during the run. After PC cut it to one on the next two plays, three more points by the Eagles took their lead up to four at 13-9. For the next several plays, Winthrop maintained a margin ranging from three to seven points. Murray's ace gave Winthrop their largest lead of the set at 22-14 and the Eagles would go on to win the set and tie the match a few plays later, forcing the deciding fifth set for the second straight night.
Set 5 | Tied at eight, kills by Jolley and Thomas put Winthrop in the lead at 10-8. After PC cut it to one on the next play, Winthrop clinched the match by scoring the final five points. Jolley ended it with a service ace.
Statistical Leaders
Notables
- The Eagles have played 1,790 matches all-time as the program holds a mark of 1,063-727.
- Three Eagles got into double figures in kills and digs.
- Winthrop led in aces, 14-10.
- Winthrop led in assists, 58-56.
- Winthrop led in digs, 64-59.
- Thomas and Jolley led the Eagles in kills (14).
- Thomas, Oglevie and Sychterz each had two blocks to lead the Eagles.
- Murray led the Eagles in aces (5) and assists (52).
- Gorniak led the Eagles in digs (14).
UP NEXT
The Eagles start a season-long four game home stand next Friday as the Eagles welcome USC Upstate to Rock Hill. The match will be streamed on ESPN+ with a 6 p.m. start.
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