GREENSBORO, N.C. – The UNC Greensboro (UNCG) volleyball team will begin its second round of The Southern Conference (SoCon) play with a trip to Furman on Thursday at 6:00 p.m. in Alley Gym and then return home to host ETSU on Saturday at 5:00 p.m. in Fleming Gym.
 

LAST TIME OUT FOR THE SPARTANS

• UNCG went 1-1 at home last weekend after falling to Mercer, 3-1 on Friday, but claiming a 3-1 victory over Samford on Saturday.
• Chloe Nussbaum led the team as the libero after notching a total of 40 digs in eight sets.
• The freshman recorded a new career match high of 22 digs in the team's 3-1 win over Samford Saturday night. Nussbaum recorded a 5.00 digs per set average on the week and posted a .914 reception percentage.
• Allie Sweet led the Spartans on the outside with 38 total kills. Sweet added four service aces, 16 digs and 7.0 total blocks on the week for 46.5 points.
• The freshman carded her second career double-double in the team's win over Samford Saturday night with 19 kills and 12 digs.
• Izora Gragg paced the Spartans as the setter again with 79 total assists and a 9.98 assist per set average across eight total sets. The sophomore added two service aces, 15 digs and 3.0 total blocks on the week.

ABOUT THE SPARTANS

• UNCG enters the week with a 7-13 overall record and 2-6 mark in SoCon action.
• Sweet is ranked in top 10 nationally across four statistical categories: attacks per set (4th/13.39), points (9th/380.5), total attacks (2nd/1,031) and total kills (9th/336).
• The Woodstock, Georgia native, paces the SoCon in attacks per set, kills per set, points, points per set, total attacks and total kills.
• Gragg is second in the conference with 766 total assists this season.
• Madeline Timmerman is leading the squad with 69.0 total blocks and 20 service aces this season.
• Nussbaum paces the team as the libero with 297 digs.
• Sweet was named SoCon Offensive Player of the Week on Sept. 2 in the first round of weekly awards for the 2024 season.
• The Spartans currently sit at seventh place in the SoCon standings.
• Head Coach Felicia Turner is in her second season at the helm of the UNCG volleyball team in 2024. 
• Assistant Coach Trent Dunahoo is in his second season with the Spartans, while Assistant Coach Justin Paggao was added to the coaching staff in the summer of 2024.
• UNCG was picked to finish ninth in the SoCon Preseason Coaches' Poll.
• The 2024 squad features seven returners and 10 newcomers (five freshmen and five transfers).

 
SCOUTING FURMAN

• The Paladins head into Thursday's contest at 7-9 overall and 1-4 in conference play.
• Furman sits just behind UNCG at eighth place in the SoCon standings.
• The Paladins dropped both conference matches last week by falling at Wofford, 3-0 and at The Citadel, 3-1.
• Genevieve Perry is second in the SoCon with a 1.23 blocks per set average this season.
• Emily Navarro and Quinn Morrissey are the leading setters for Furman with 261 and 247 assists, respectively. 
• Chandler Parker stands out for the team on the outside with 175 kills, while Kennedy Seekford paces the squad as the libero with 273 digs.
• Mary Beth Headley was tabbed to the 2024 SoCon Preseason All-Conference Team.
• Furman was picked to finish fourth in the SoCon Preseason Coaches' Poll with one first-place vote.

SERIES HISTORY VS FURMAN
The Paladins lead in the overall series against the Spartans at 42-16. Furman went 2-0 against UNCG last season with two straight set victories. The Paladins defeated the Spartans in a five-set thriller on Sept. 28 in Greensboro this season.

SCOUTING ETSU

• The Bucs come into the week with an 11-8 overall record and 3-4 record in SoCon action to stand in a tie for fifth place in the conference with Chattanooga.
• ETSU went 1-1 in last week's round of SoCon play falling to Chattanooga on Thursday, 3-0, but returned to Johnson City to defeat Western Carolina in straight sets on Saturday.
• Abbey Thomas is second in the league with 73 total blocks.
• Reese Rhodes is pacing the Bucs with 628 assists and 25 service aces this season.
• Amanda Lowe is the leading hitter with 202 kills, while Melanie Morris is the best passer on the team with 258 digs.
• ETSU was picked to finish sixth in the SoCon Preseason Coaches' Poll with one first-place vote.
• The Bucs will take on Furman on Friday at 6:00 p.m. in Greenville, South Carolina, before coming to Greensboro.

SERIES HISTORY VS ETSU
The Bucs lead in the overall series against the Spartans at 34-12. ETSU went 3-0 against UNCG last season with the last matchup coming in the first round of the SoCon Tournament, 3-1, in Johnson City, Tennessee.  The Bucs most recently claimed the 3-1 win in the 2024 SoCon opener on Sept. 26 in Johnson City.

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UP NEXT
The Spartans will continue SoCon play with a trip to Wofford on Friday, Nov. 1 at 6:00 p.m. and The Citadel on Saturday, Nov. 2 at 4:00 p.m.