ROCK HILL, S.C. -- The Winthrop University volleyball team swept the weekend after defeating USC Upstate in straight sets, 3-0, Saturday at Winthrop Coliseum.
Paige Bennett had a team high of 16 kills,
Lexi Thatcher added a game-high 36 assists, and
KeAra Bowen had 11 kills with no errors on 19 attempts.
Bennett kept her streak of 15-plus kills in seven consecutive matches,
Addison Torain recorded 15 or more digs in back-to-back matches, and Bowen posted a career-high .579 hitting percentage.
TOP PERFORMERS
Kills - Bennett (16), Bowen (11),
Laila Glover (8)
Aces - Cadavid (2), Thatcher (1), Bowen (1)
Blocks - Glover (2), Bowen (2), Thatcher (1)
Assists - Thatcher (36), Torain (4), Cadavid (2)
Digs - Torain (15), Thatcher (13), Langner (11)
SET 1
USC Upstate built a 6-3 lead before an
Alyah Cadavid service run that included two aces moved Winthrop ahead 8-6.
The teams traded points through the middle of the set, with USC Upstate pulling even at 12-12 and again at 15-15.
Laila Glover put the Eagles back in front 16-15, and Torain served eight straight points as Winthrop stretched the lead to 24-15 behind Bennett kills, Torain ace and blocks involving Bowen and Glover.
After Upstate stopped the run, Bowen finished the set with a kill from Thatcher for a 25-16 Winthrop win.
SET 2
Upstate built a 6-3 lead, but the Eagles worked back with kills from
Reece Rhoads and Bennett, a Thatcher block and opponent errors to move ahead 9-8.
After the Spartans went back in front 16-14, Winthrop answered with five of the next six points; Glover and Bowen had kills during the stretch, and Bennett's kill put the Eagles up 19-17.
The teams traded points late before Bowen added a kill and an ace for a 22-20 edge. Rhoads and Glover followed with kills to bring the Eagles to set point, and Bennett finished the set at 25-23.
SET 3
The Eagles scored the first two points, but USC Upstate answered to move ahead 3-2 before Winthrop worked back in front and held an 8-7 edge on a Bennett kill.
Winthrop created separation with kills from Glover and Bowen and a Bennett block, later using kills from
Giselle Little, Glover and Bennett to build a 17-11 lead.
USC Upstate cut the margin to 20-17 with four straight points, but the Eagles responded with the next three and closed the set 25-20 on Bowen's kill from Thatcher.
NEXT UP
The Eagles start a two-week road trip when travel to Clinton, S.C., to face Presbyterian on Friday, Oct. 23, at 6 p.m.
