Winthrop University Athletics

ROCK HILL, S.C. -- The Winthrop University volleyball team swept UNCW 3-0 on Friday at the Winthrop Coliseum. KeAra Bowen hammered 15 kills, while Lexi Thatcher delivered 37 assists and Paige Bennett tallied 13 kills.

The Eagles achieved a season-high hitting percentage of .319 during the game.

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Top Performers

Kills - Bowen (15), Bennett (13), Teagan Sychterz (8)  
Aces - Sychterz (2), Alyah Cadavid (2), Addison Torain (1)  
Blocks - Bowen (4), Giselle Little (2), Bennett (1)  
Assists - Thatcher (37)  
Digs - Thatcher (11), Bennett (6)  

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Set 1  

• After UNCW tied the opening set at 1-1, the Eagles built a 5-2 lead with kills from Bowen and Bennett, and a Lindsay Langner service ace.  
• Bennett's serve ignited a four-point run, featuring a Little kill and a UNCW attack error, pushing Winthrop ahead 9-2.  
• The Eagles extended the margin to 12-3 with a Little kill, a Thatcher-Sychterz block, and Torain ace.  
• UNCW scored consecutive points to make it 18-10, but the Eagles responded by reaching 23-11 on a Sychterz kill, Torain ace, and Rhoads kill.  
• After UNCW took two straight points, a service error gave the Eagles set point, and Bowen finished the set with a kill, sealing it 25-13.

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Set 2  

• A back-and-forth start led to an 8-8 tie, which the Eagles broke on Cadavid's serve, gaining a 12-8 lead with kills by Bowen and Bennett and two Cadavid aces.  
• Winthrop pushed the margin to 14-9 on a Sychterz kill and a block by Little and Bowen.  
• UNCW scored six straight points to move in front 19-16.  
• The Eagles pulled even at 22-22 with kills by Sychterz and Bowen before UNCW reached set point at 24-22.  
• Bennett answered with three kills around a Sychterz service ace as the Eagles scored the final four points, taking the set 26-24.

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Set 3  

• The Eagles opened the third set with a Bowen kill and a Little/Bowen block, but UNCW scored the next five points, later leading 9-6.  
• Rhoads initiated a six-point Eagles run with a kill, and Thatcher served through the stretch, including her ace, giving Winthrop a 12-9 lead.  
• UNCW tied the set at 12-12, but the Eagles moved back in front on an Elaina Murphy attack error and a Sychterz kill.  
• Winthrop pushed the margin to 20-15 with a Little kill and consecutive Bennett kills.  
• UNCW got as close as 23-20, but a service error put the Eagles at set point, and Sychterz and Bowen blocked Meredith Keefer to finish the set, 25-21.

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NEXT UP  

The Eagles return home to host NC Central on Saturday at 6 p.m. at Winthrop Coliseum.