Volleyball Hosts UNC Asheville To Begin Spartan-Aggie Invitational
GREENSBORO, N.C. – The UNCG volleyball team welcomes UNC Asheville to Fleming Gymnasium Friday evening for the opening match of the Spartan-Aggie Invitational. The Spartans and Bulldogs are set to face off at 7 p.m. The event continues Saturday as UNCG hosts crosstown rival North Carolina A&T at 11 a.m. before battling American University at 7 p.m.
UNCG dropped the first two sets at High Point Tuesday, but dug down and rallied back to tie the match before falling in the decisive set. It was the first loss of the season for the Spartans, who had defeated North Carolina Central, Liberty and Hampton at the NCCU Volleyball Invitational to begin the campaign with three-straight victories.
Sophomore Kelsey Sidney filled up the stat sheet in the match with the Panthers, garnering her first career double-double with 10 kills and 10 digs to go along with two aces and four blocks. Freshman Lauren Betlach led UNCG with 12 kills and hit .231 while racking up six digs. Speaking of defense, junior Kellie Orewiler tallied 25 digs while rookie Katherine Santiago totaled 24 to set her very early career high.
ABOUT UNC ASHEVILLE...
The Bulldogs (2-7) downed SoCon member Western Carolina 3-2 in their home opener this past Tuesday night after trailing 2-0 in the match. Senior outside hitter Holly Shelton paces the offense with 89 total kills (2.78 k/s) while junior defensive specialist Rachel Wells leads the back row with 84 digs (2.62 d/s). UNCG leads the series between the schools 9-5 and has captured the last two meetings.
THE BOOK ON NORTH CAROLINA A&T...
The Aggies (0-8) enter the weekend searching for their first victory but came close last weekend, falling to Bryant in five sets. A freshman leads the way for A&T on offense as Aleena McDaniel has racked up 68 kills for an average of 2.34 per set. Classmate Ashley Johnson paces the defense 108 digs (3.60 d/s). The Spartans hold a 17-2 advantage in the all-time series
LOOKING AT AMERICAN...
American (2-3) will prove a stout test this weekend, having been named the 2012 Patriot League favorite after capturing its 10th league title in 11 seasons last year. The Eagles will look to get back on track in Greensboro, losing two of three at the Yale Classic last weekend. Sophomore middle hitter Kelly McCaddin leads the squad with 43 kills while rookie Allison Cappellino is the top defensive force, averaging 4.07 digs per set (61 total). UNCG and American have never met on the volleyball court.
SPARTAN LEFTOVERS...
With the victory at N.C. Central in the season opener, UNCG improved to 5-0 all-time against the Eagles while moving to 141-120 versus teams from North Carolina ... During the opening weekend, the Spartans had four players record double-digit kill and dig efforts in each category ... Head Coach Patrick Nicholas is just 13 victories away from 200 for his career ... Two of UNCG's freshman are acclimating quite well to college volleyball as Lauren Betlach is hitting .245 in four matches with 39 kills while Katherine Santiago is averaging 3.11 digs per set (56 total).
ATTACK OF THE LIBEROS...
UNCG sports arguably the top libero tandem in the Southern Conference in junior Kellie Orewiler, the reigning SoCon Libero of the Year, and Santiago. The pair combined for 49 digs at High Point and is averaging 4.00 and 3.11 respectively.
TRIPLE THE FUN (ALMOST)...
Senior setter Ari Lysacek put on an impressive performance against Liberty, falling just one kill shy of a triple-double. She tallied 44 assists, 12 digs and nine kills to account for UNCG's first double-double of the season. The lone senior on this year's roster also hit for an efficient percentage - picking up the nine kills on 13 attempts with just one error (.615).
SETTING RECORDS AND TAKING NAMES...
Sophomore outside hitter Vicky Harley recorded a career-high 10 kills versus Hampton and hit .615 in the match - a new program best for a four-set contest. She made just one error on 13 attempts in the contest.
ANOTHER EXCELLENT START...
The Spartans opened the season with three victories for the second time in the last three seasons. The last time UNCG began a campaign 3-0 was in 2010 when the Spartans finished with a 22-12 record, a second-place finish in the SoCon North Division and an appearance in the league tournament semifinals.
SOCON LEADERS...
UNCG is leading the Southern Conference in a few statistical categories early in the season. The Spartans are tops in hitting percentage (.273) and aces per set (1.54) while they also sit fourth in opponent hitting percentage - holding foes to a .174 clip. Individually, redshirt junior Olivia Humphries and Harley are third (.388) and fifth (.350) among league players in hitting percentage while Lysacek is third in aces per set (0.46).
WHAT'S NEXT?...
UNCG continues its seven-match homestand Thursday, Sept. 13 when the Spartans play host to Mid-American Conference power Ohio University.