Rock Hill, S.C. – Winthrop picked up their first win of the year by defeating in-state foe South Carolina by a final score of 3-1 (23-25, 25-14, 27-25, 25-21).
Winthrop (1-10, 0-0 Big South) | South Carolina (6-3, 0-0 Southeastern)
Sep. 16, 2023 | Winthrop Coliseum
Winthrop 3, South Carolina 1 (23-25, 25-14, 27-25, 25-21)
How it Happened
Set 1 | Winthrop got out to a hot 10-5 start with
Brookelynn Thomas and
Karli Shepherd leading the way with two kills each. South Carolina cut it to two on the next three plays only for the Eagles to take it back up to five with three straight points of their own on two kills by
Alicia Roberts and a kill by
Recce Rhoads. But the Gamecocks used a big 15-4 to seize a 23-17 lead. Winthrop then battled back to cut it to one at 24-23 with a 6-1 run. Rhoads led the way during the rally with two more kills. But the comeback in the first set wasn't to be for the Eagles, as South Carolina got the next point to lead 1-0 in the match.
Set 2 | The two teams split the first six points to start the second set with Rhoads getting two kills. Up 9-7, the Eagles clinched the second set with a 16-7 run to tie the match at one. During the run, Rhoads had three kills and a block.
Set 3 | The Gamecocks led 7-2 to begin the third set before the Eagles tied it at eight with a 6-1 run. During the run, five of the Eagle points were kills by Shepherd, including three straight. South Carolina then went back up by five at 18-13 with a 10-5 run. But the rest of the set was all Winthrop, as they fought back to tie it up at 25 with a 12-7 run. Shepherd led the Eagle offensive attack during the rally with three kills. A Gamecock error capped the run and Winthrop then took a 2-1 lead in the match on the next two plays, both South Carolina errors.
Set 4 | The two teams split the first 10 points, with Rhoads getting two kills. Winthrop took a six-point edge at 18-12 with a 13-7 run. Shepherd and Thomas each had two kills and
Rylie McMahen had two straight service aces during the run. But the Gamecocks refused to go away, tying the set at 20 with an 8-2 run. Winthrop then closed out one of their biggest victories in many years by scoring five of the final six points.
Alicia Davis had three of Winthrop's five kills during the decisive rally. An error by South Carolina ended the match, giving the Eagles their first victory of the year.
Statistical Leaders
Notables
- The Eagles have played 1,785 matches all-time as the program holds a mark of 1,059-726.
- This is Winthrop's first win over South Carolina since Sep. 7, 2013, a 3-2 final score at Clemson.
- This is Winthrop's first win over South Carolina in Rock Hill since Sep. 4, 2010, a 3-1 final score.
- Winthrop is the only Big South institution to record a win over a Power 5 team this season.
- This is Winthrop's first win over a Power 5 team since a 3-0 win at Virginia on Sep. 4, 2021.
- The victory snaps a 12-game losing streak dating back to last season.
- Winthrop had eight aces to South Carolina's one.
- Three Eagles got into double figures in kills and digs.
- Shepherd and Rhoads led the Eagles in kills with 16 each.
- Shepherd and McMahen led the Eagles in aces with two each.
- Roberts and Thomas led the Eagles in blocks with five.
- Isabella Murray led the Eagles in assists with 50.
- Madison Gorniak led the Eagles in digs with 25.
UP NEXT
The Eagles begin conference play next Saturday with a road trip to Gardner-Webb at 4 p.m.
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