Laramie, Wyo. – Winthrop volleyball concluded the first day of the Rumble in the Rockies Invitational with their second match on the afternoon by falling to South Dakota State by a final score of 3-1 (18-25, 25-22, 8-25, 9-25) at the Uniwyo Sports Complex on the campus of the University of Wyoming.
 
Winthrop (0-2, 0-0 Big South) | South Dakota State (1-1, 0-0 Summit League)
Aug. 25, 2023 | Uniwyo Sports Complex
Winthrop 1, South Dakota State 3 (18-25, 25-22, 8-25, 9-25)
 
How it Happened
 
Set 1 | Winthrop seized an early 8-5 lead to start the match on a kill by Alicia Roberts, Isabella Murray, Brookelynn Thomas, Avery Jolley, Riley Oglevie, two kills by Karli Shepherd and an error against SDSU. The Jackrabbits tied the score at eight by scoring the next three points. The two teams then alternated scores and small rallies for the next several plays, with neither team taking more than a two point lead. After trailing 11-10, three straight Eagle points put Winthrop back up only to have SDSU score three straight of their own and forcing Winthrop to call a timeout. SDSU kept their run going after the Eagle timeout, taking their largest lead of the set at 19-15 until consecutive kills by Jolley and Thomas briefly stopped the rally and cut the lead to 19-17. The Jackrabbits then closed out the set by scoring six of the final seven points to take a 1-0 lead in the match.
 
Set 2 | Trailing 2-0 early, Winthrop exploded with a 10-4 run to go up 10-6. Thomas led the run with three kills. The Jackrabbits proceeded to score six of the next eight points to tie the set at 12. Two consecutive errors against SDSU then put the Eagles up by a pair. After an error against the Eagles, a kill by Shepherd and Jolley gave Winthrop a 16-13 lead, forcing a stoppage of play by SDSU. Winthrop picked up right where they left off with a kill by Murray and a SDSU error, forcing the Jackrabbits to burn another timeout. SDSU would cut it to two late in the set, but it was too little too late for them, as Winthrop ultimately closed the second set on a 13-10 run after being tied at 12. Thomas's kill clinched the set for the Eagles, giving Winthrop their first victory in a set this season and tying the match at one.
 
Set 3 | Winthrop trailed 8-6 to start the third set with Jolley and Shepherd each notching two kills before SDSU went on an offensive barrage by scoring 17 of the last 19 points to go up 2-1 in the match. Winthrop's only points during the closing SDSU run were two kills by Roberts.
 
Set 4 | Winthrop scored first to begin the fourth set on a kill by Jolley but SDSU scored six of the next eight points to take a 6-3 lead. A Thomas kill and ace, two kills by Roberts and an error by the Jackrabbits tied it at eight only to see the Jackrabbits tally three quick points to seize an 11-8 lead and forcing a Winthrop timeout. After the break, SDSU then scored four more to go up 15-8 as part of a 7-0 run by the Jackrabbits, leading to another break in the action. The Jackrabbits would then take a 21-11 lead but Winthrop would fight back late and cut it to four twice, but that's as close as they would get. SDSU then scored the last two points to win the set and the match.
 
Statistical Leaders
Avery Jolley (13 kills, 4 digs)
Alicia Roberts (10 kills, 3 blocks)
Brookelynn Thomas (10 kills, 2 aces, 3 blocks)
Alyah Cadavid (1 ace, 2 aces, 12 digs)
 
Notables
The Eagles have played 1,776 matches all-time as the program holds a mark of 1,058-718
Winthrop and SDSU were even in aces, 4-4.
Three Eagles were in double figures in kills.
 
UP NEXT
The Eagles face Green Bay tomorrow afternoon at 12 p.m. EST to conclude Winthrop's trip to the Rockies.
 
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