SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The No. 9 UNC Greensboro (UNCG) volleyball team earned a straight-set victory (25-21, 25-22, 25-23) over No. 8 Western Carolina on Thursday in round one of The Southern Conference (SoCon) Tournament at Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium in Spartanburg, South Carolina.
 
Thursday's win marks the second sweep for the Spartans this season with the first coming in a win over Norfolk State in the non-conference slate. The last time UNCG won a SoCon Championship match was in 2017 when the squad defeated Chattanooga, 3-1.

HOW IT HAPPENED
A service ace from Megan Carron followed by a kill from Cece Fitz gave UNCG the 2-0 lead in the first set to hold the advantage for the entire frame. The Spartans used a .279 set one hitting percentage to their advantage, besting the Catamounts 17-8 in kills. Final kills from McKenna Timmerman and Fitz secured set one for the Spartans, 25-21.
 
UNCG continued its momentum to start set two with three unanswered points. However, with the Spartans on top, 4-1, Western Carolina notched a 6-0 run to take its first lead of the match (7-4). Later with the Catamounts up, 15-12, the Spartans posted an 8-0 run to take the five-point lead, 20-15. One final solo block from Allie Sweet granted UNCG the second set, 25-22, for the 2-0 lead.
 
Western Carolina scored first in set three and maintained the advantage for most of the stanza. The Catamounts led by as much as five (17-12). With Western Carolina controlling the set 20-18, Emily Hanlon launched a kill to begin a 4-0 run, securing UNCG the lead, 22-20. The Spartans maintained the lead for the rest of the match. A match point kill from Madeline Timmerman gave the Spartans the third frame, 25-23, and the 3-0 victory.

BY THE NUMBERS

• Sweet registered her fifth career double-double with 12 kills and 12 digs.
• The freshman also led the squad with 4.0 total blocks.
• Madeline tied Sweet with 12 kills.
• McKenna followed closely behind with nine kills.
• Chloe Nussbaum also tied Sweet with 12 digs.
• Mya Wood posted 11 digs for the team.
• Carron paced the match with two service aces.
• Izora Gragg led the match with 38 assists.

 
RECORDS
UNCG: 8-21, 2-14 SoCon
Western Carolina: 8-21, 2-13 SoCon

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UP NEXT
The Spartans will take on No. 1 Mercer in a SoCon Quarterfinal game, on Friday, Nov. 22, at 1:30 p.m. in Spartanburg, South Carolina, at Jerry Richardson indoor Stadium.