WILMINGTON, N.C. – The UNC Greensboro (UNCG) volleyball team split its matches on day one of the UNC Wilmington (UNCW) Invitational with a five-set loss to Charlotte (19-25, 23-25, 25-23, 25-20, 7-15), but securing a five-set win over UNCW (22-25, 25-14, 20-25, 33-31, 15-2) on Friday in Wilmington, North Carolina, in Hanover Hall.
 
UNCG claimed the fourth set over UNCW, 33-31 to advance to a fifth set. This was the longest extended set won by the Spartans dating back to 2008.
 
In addition, the Spartans were able to defeat the Seahawks, 15-2 in the final set for the victory. The last time UNCG held a team to that low of a score in the fifth set was when the team won, 15-3 against Eastern Kentucky in the 2016 season.

Match 1: UNCG 2 – Charlotte 3

Set 1 – An Allie Sweet kill followed by a service ace from Siena Smiejek granted UNCG a quick 2-0 lead over Charlotte to begin the match. Both teams tussled back-and-forth for the first frame to see seven ties and three lead changes throughout. With the Spartans in control, 16-15, the 49ers posted four-straight points to maintain the lead the rest of the set. After UNCG responded with a 3-1 run, Charlotte tacked on the final five points of set one securing it, 25-19. 

Set 2 – The Niners continued their momentum into set two, notching the first three points of the game. Later, with Charlotte in control 10-6, a kill from Connore' Siler-Nixon propelled the Spartans to drop five unanswered points for the 11-10 advantage. However, Charlotte quickly responded with a 6-1 run to regain a 16-12 lead. Despite, the remainder of set two staying close, the Niners were able to maintain control, taking the second frame, 25-23, for the 2-0 match lead.
 
Set 3 – With Charlotte in control 6-4 in the third frame, UNCG found its stride, recording six consecutive points, once again beginning with a Siler-Nixon kill for the 10-6 lead. The Niners continued to claw their way back into the game, eventually tying things up at 13-13, forcing a UNCG timeout. Coming out of the huddle, a kill from McKenna Timmerman began a 6-2 Spartan run for the squad to hold the advantage the rest of the way. Despite Charlotte finding its way back within one, 24-23, one final kill from Siler-Nixon granted the Spartans set three, 25-23.
 
Set 4 – Charlotte notched a 7-3 lead to start off the fourth frame. A kill from Robin Rosser propelled the Spartans to four-straight points to tie things up at seven apiece. Later, with Charlotte in control, 11-10, a kill from Allie Sweet sparked a 3-0 Spartans run for the 13-11 lead. UNCG was able to hold the advantage for the remainder of the set, leading by as much as five points. A set-point kill from Sweet gave UNCG the game, 25-20, to tie the match, 2-2.
 
Set 5 – The Niners picked up the momentum in the final set, jumping out to a 4-0 advantage and holding the lead the rest of the way. Charlotte came away with the final game, 15-7, to claim the five-set win.

BY THE NUMBERS

• Sweet registered her eighth career double-double and third of the season after leading the team with 26 kills and adding 12 digs.
• Mia Nicklas led UNCG with a new career-best 21 digs.
• Chloe Nussbaum followed closely behind with 17 digs.
• Siler-Nixon posted a new match-high of 15 kills.
• Gabby Seeds and Siler-Nixon led the Spartans with three blocks apiece. 

Match 2: UNCG 3 – UNCW 2

Set 1 – Four Spartan points in a row began the match, allowing UNCG to lead in most of the set. With UNCG on top, 12-8, UNCW strung together four-straight points to tie the match for the first time, 12-12, but UNCG stayed in control for the time being. The Seahawks took their first lead of the game later on after a 3-0 run, making it 17-16 UNCW. Both teams continued to go back-and-forth. However, with the set tied at 22-22, UNCW scored the final three points to earn set one, 25-22.

Set 2 – UNCW notched a narrow 7-6 lead over UNCG early on, but that would be the last time the Seahawks would control the frame before the Spartans found their rhythm in the second set. The Spartans controlled the remainder of set two, leading by as much as 11 in the game. Kills from Siler-Nixon and Sweet sealed the frame for the Spartans, 25-14.
 
Set 3 – The Spartans started out the third set with three unanswered points, but UNCW quickly bounced back with a 6-1 run to regain the lead, 6-4. The Seahawks were able to hold the lead for the remainder of the set, securing it 25-20.
 
Set 4 – Set four was an all-out battle between both teams that saw a total of 14 ties and five lead changes. With UNCG down 22-17, the Spartans retaliated with a 6-1 run to tie the game at 23-23. The remainder of the frame continued to be a point-for-point duel with the Spartans and Seahawks battling for the set. However, with UNCW in control, 31-30, two kills from Sweet, following a solo block from Siler-Nixon, the Spartans came away with the extended fourth set, 33-31.
 
Set 5 – UNCG utilized a .316 hitting percentage in the final set, securing an 11-0 lead over UNCW to start things off. The Seahawks squeezed in a couple points before kills from Smiejek, Sweet, Robin Rosser and a block assist from Rosser and Smiejek granted UNCG with the set, 15-2, for the five-set win.

BY THE NUMBERS

• Sweet recorded her ninth career double-double and fourth of the season after leading the match with 23 kills and adding 16 digs.
• Sweet led the Spartans with three service aces.
• Smiejek paced the Spartans with seven total blocks.
• Seeds led the match with 47 assists and was one dig shy of achieving a double-double with nine.
• Nussbaum led the match with 26 digs.
• Smiejek added a career best 11 kills and two block solos.

RECORDS
UNCG: 5-3
Charlotte: 5-3
UNCW: 1-7

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UP NEXT
The Spartans will conclude the UNCW Invitational on Saturday with a matchup against West Georgia at 11:00 a.m. at Hanover Hall in Wilmington, North Carolina.