GREENSBORO, N.C. – The UNC Greensboro (UNCG) volleyball team fell to Furman in a five-set thriller (25-21, 18-25, 22-25, 25-17, 12-15) in its home opening game of The Southern Conference (SoCon) schedule in Fleming Gym on Saturday night. 
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Game one went back-and-froth in the early goings. However, with the match tied at nine, a kill from Allie Sweet started a 7-1 run for the Spartans to take a 16-10 lead over the Paladins. UNCG controlled the remainder of the first set, clinching it 25-21 thanks to a final service error from Furman's Quinn Morrissey.

Furman found its stride in the second set by starting things off with a 9-2 run over UNCG. The Spartans came back within five later, 23-18, but the Paladins continued to hold the advantage to claim set two, 25-18.
 
The Paladins continued their momentum into the third set by recording a 6-2 run to begin the game, never allowing the Spartans to lead. With UNCG down 22-15, the Spartans notched a 7-2 run to come back within two, making the score 24-22. However, a set point kill from Grainne McGrath secured the third game for Furman, 25-22.
 
The Spartans came out of the huddle to record an 8-4 run, taking their first lead since set one and never allowing Furman to lead in the fourth game. A 3-0 run featuring kills from McKenna Timmerman and Izora Gragg secured the fourth set for the Spartans, 25-17, to push for a fifth game.
 
The Spartans started off the fifth game with a 2-0 run thanks to a kill from Sweet and an attack error from the Paladins. However, Furman quickly responded with a 4-0 run to take the lead and held it for the remainder of the match to come away with the final set, 15-12, for the five-set victory.

BY THE NUMBERS

• Four Spartans recorded double-digit digs and three posted double-digit kills.
• Sweet led the match with 21 kills, while notching a new match high of four block assists.
• McKenna recorded her second double-double of the season with a new match high of 16 digs and adding 11 kills.  
• Gragg led the match as the setter with 45 assists.
• Madeline paced the team with three service aces.
• America Anderson led the way at the net with five total blocks.
• Chloe Nussbaum led UNCG as the libero with 19 digs.
• Mya Wood followed closely behind with 18 digs.

RECORDS
UNCG: 5-9, 0-2 SoCon
Furman: 7-5, 1-0 SoCon

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UP NEXT
The Spartans will continue the SoCon schedule at home by hosting The Citadel on Thursday, Oct. 3 at 6:00 p.m. and Wofford on Friday, Oct. 4 at 6:00 p.m. in Fleming Gym.
 
Thursday's match against the Bulldogs will feature an enter to win a FREE bookstore prize pack! For Friday's match, the first 100 UNCG students will receive a FREE Chick-fil-A sandwich courtesy of ACE. All regular season home games are free admission.