GREENSBORO, N.C. – The UNC Greensboro (UNCG) volleyball team will continue The Southern Conference (SoCon) schedule by hosting The Citadel on Thursday, Oct. 3 and Wofford on Friday, Oct. 4, with both matches beginning at 6:00 p.m. in Fleming Gym.
 

LAST TIME OUT FOR THE SPARTANS

• UNCG started off conference play last week going 0-2 after falling in a 3-1 match at ETSU on Thursday and then returning to Greensboro to drop a five-set thriller with Furman on Saturday.
• Allie Sweet led the Spartans on the offensive end with 40 kills and a 4.44 kills per set average on the week. The freshman added two assists, one ace, eight digs, eight total blocks and 46.0 points.
• Chloe Nussbaum stood out as the libero, totaling 31 digs for a 3.44 digs per set average.
• Izora Gragg led the team as the setter once again, totaling 86 assists for a 9.56 assists per set average. The sophomore added three kills, three aces, five blocks, 15 digs and 9.0 points.

 
ABOUT THE SPARTANS

• The Spartans head into week two of SoCon action with a 5-9 overall record and are 0-2 in league play.
• UNCG is third in the conference with 85 team service aces for a 1.57 service aces per set average this season.
• Sweet is pacing the SoCon across six statistical categories: attacks per set (13.15), kills per set (4.30), points (259.5), points per set (4.81), total attacks (710) and total kills (232).
• The freshman is ranked in the top 25 nationally in attacks per set, kills per set, points, total attacks and total kills.
• Gragg stands out at 17^th nationally and second in the conference with 531 assists this season.
• Madeline Timmerman is second in the conference with a .379 hitting percentage and is pacing the team with 18 service aces.
• America Anderson and Madeline stand out in the middle with 49.0 total blocks apiece this season.
• Nussbaum is leading the squad with 199 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 ninth 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 THE CITADEL

• The Bulldogs come to Greensboro with a 6-7 overall record and are 0-2 in SoCon action.
• The Citadel opened its SoCon schedule in Charleston, South Carolina, last week falling to Western Carolina 3-2 on Wednesday and to Mercer 3-1 on Saturday.
• Ali Ruffin is ranked fourth among the league with a 3.31 kills per set average.
• Ruffin is pacing the Bulldogs with 162 kills and 203 digs this season.
• Belle Hogan stands out as the leading setter on the team with 377 assists and is also pacing the team with 16 service aces.
• Aaliyah Byers is leading the team at the net with 42.0 blocks.
• The Bulldogs were picked to finish first in the SoCon Preseason Coaches' Poll with four first-place votes.
• Hogan and Ruffin were each tabbed to the 2024 SoCon Preseason All-Conference Team.

SERIES HISTORY VS THE CITADEL
UNCG leads the over the overall series against The Citadel at 34-11. The Bulldogs took both matches from the Spartans last season with the most recent one coming in a sweep in Charleston on Nov. 4, 2023.
 
SCOUTING WOFFORD

• The Terriers are currently leading the SoCon with a 10-4 overall record and are 2-0 in conference play.
• Wofford began its SoCon slate in Spartanburg, South Carolina, with a 3-1 win over Chattanooga on Thursday and then returned to Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium on Friday to defeat Samford in straight sets.
• The Terriers are leading the league in four statistical categories: assists per set (12.20), digs per set (18.84), hitting percentage (.230) and kills per set (13.36).
• Laney Klika is leading the SoCon with a 5.57 digs per set average.
• Bradley Brown is pacing the conference with a .387 hitting percentage.
• Taylor Pecht stands out as the setter on Wofford with 281 assists.
• Sarah MacLean leads the outside with 156 kills.
• Klika and Annemarie Rakoski are leading the Terriers on the defensive end with 283 digs and 49.0 total blocks, respectively.
• Wofford was picked to finish fifth in the SoCon Preseason Coaches' Poll with one first-place vote.

SERIES HISTORY VS WOFFORD
The Spartans lead in the overall series against the Terriers at 33-19. Wofford claimed both matches against UNCG last season. The most recent matchup against the two teams came in Spartanburg on Nov. 3, 2023, in a 3-0 victory for the Terriers.

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UP NEXT
The Spartans will continue the SoCon schedule by hitting the road to face Western Carolina on Friday, Oct. 11 at 6:00 p.m. in Cullowhee, North Carolina, and Chattanooga on Saturday, Oct. 12 at 4:00 p.m. in Chattanooga, Tennessee.