Greenville, N.C. – Winthrop fell in a hard-fought, back-and-forth match to Georgia Southern in the first round of the 2023 National Invitational Volleyball Championship (NIVC) on the campus of East Carolina University by a final score of 3-2 (25-20, 24-26, 24-26, 25-23, 10-15), ending their 2023 campaign. With the victory, Georgia Southern advances to the second round of the NIVC on Saturday afternoon at 6 p.m. against the winner of The Citadel and the host Pirates.
Winthrop (14-14, 12-2 Big South) | Georgia Southern (22-8, 10-6 Sun Belt)
Dec. 1, 2023 | Williams Arena at Minges Coliseum
Winthrop 2, Georgia Southern 3 (25-20, 24-26, 24-26, 25-23, 10-15)
How it Happened
Set 1 | Tied at three to start the day, Georgia Southern broke the early deadlock by scoring four straight points. Winthrop went on a huge run, eventually taking a 22-15 lead by going on a 19-8 outburst.
Avery Jolley and
Isabella Murray both led the way during the run with three kills and an ace. The Eagles would then clinch the set a few plays later, taking a 1-0 lead in the match after a kill by
Brookelynn Thomas.
Set 2 | With the second set tied at 10 with
Lexie Vick notching two kills, consecutive kills by
Karli Shepherd and Thomas put Winthrop ahead 12-10. GSU quickly went ahead at 16-15 by scoring six of the next nine points. The two teams then went back-and-forth for the next several plays until GSU broke a 19-19 tie by scoring the next two points. Winthrop refused to back down, vaulting back into the lead at 24-23. But Georgia Southern scored the last three points to tie the match at one.
Set 3 | GSU broke an early 4-4 tie by scoring seven straight points.
Reece Rhoads stopped their rally with a kill, ableit only temporarily. GSU scored two more points to seize a 13-5 lead. Winthrop then came all the way back to take a 20-19 lead with a 15-6 run. Shepherd and Thomas led the rally with a pair of kills. After Winthrop seized the lead, the two teams alternated points on the next several plays. Down 24-23, GSU took their first lead of the match by again scoring the last three points.
Set 4 | Down 5-3, Winthrop scored four straight points to take a 7-5 lead. GSU tied it at seven but kills by
Isabella Murray and
Sydney Nolan put the Eagles ahead by two only to have GSU go back up 12-9 with a quick 5-0 run. Winthrop responded by scoring seven of the next 10 points to go back out in front 16-15. Shepherd accounted for four kills during the spurt. The two teams then split the next 10 points, leaving Winthrop with a 21-20 lead. An error against GSU on the next play put the Eagles up two. GSU scored three of the next four points to knot the frame at 23. Shepherd's kill put Winthrop back ahead and the Eagles forced the fifth and final set via an error by GSU.
Set 5 | Winthrop started the fifth and final set with a 4-1 lead but GSU quickly went ahead 7-5. Winthrop tied it at seven on a Rhoads kill and a GSU error but GSU broke the tie by scoring five of the next six points, taking a 12-8 lead. GSU would go on to win the match a few plays later, ending Winthrop's season.
Statistical Leaders
Notables
- The Eagles have played 1,802 matches all-time as the program holds a mark of 1,073-729.
- Five Eagles got into double figures in digs.
- Winthrop held the edge in points, kills, aces and digs.
- Thomas led the Eagles in kills with 16 and blocks with seven.
- Murray led the Eagles in aces with three and assists with 48.
- Madison Gorniak led the Eagles in digs with 49.
- Friday's contest marked the conclusion of the careers of six Eagle seniors.
UP NEXT
The Eagles look ahead to 2024.
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