OCK HILL, S.C. — The Winthrop University volleyball team swept UNCW 3-0 on Friday at the Winthrop Coliseum. KeAra Bowen hammered 15 kills, while Lexi Thatcher delivered 37 assists and Paige Bennett tallied 13 kills.
The Eagles achieved a season-high hitting percentage of .319 during the game.
Top Performers
Kills – Bowen (15), Bennett (13), Teagan Sychterz (8)
Aces – Sychterz (2), Alyah Cadavid (2), Addison Torain (1)
Blocks – Bowen (4), Giselle Little (2), Bennett (1)
Assists – Thatcher (37)
Digs – Thatcher (11), Bennett (6)
Set 1
- After UNCW tied the opening set at 1-1, the Eagles built a 5-2 lead with kills from Bowen and Bennett, and a Lindsay Langner service ace.
- Bennett’s serve ignited a four-point run, featuring a Little kill and a UNCW attack error, pushing Winthrop ahead 9-2.
- The Eagles extended the margin to 12-3 with a Little kill, a Thatcher-Sychterz block, and Torain ace.
- UNCW scored consecutive points to make it 18-10, but the Eagles responded by reaching 23-11 on a Sychterz kill, Torain ace, and Rhoads kill.
- After UNCW took two straight points, a service error gave the Eagles set point, and Bowen finished the set with a kill, sealing it 25-13.
Set 2
- A back-and-forth start led to an 8-8 tie, which the Eagles broke on Cadavid’s serve, gaining a 12-8 lead with kills by Bowen and Bennett and two Cadavid aces.
- Winthrop pushed the margin to 14-9 on a Sychterz kill and a block by Little and Bowen.
- UNCW scored six straight points to move in front 19-16.
- The Eagles pulled even at 22-22 with kills by Sychterz and Bowen before UNCW reached set point at 24-22.
- Bennett answered with three kills around a Sychterz service ace as the Eagles scored the final four points, taking the set 26-24.
Set 3
- The Eagles opened the third set with a Bowen kill and a Little/Bowen block, but UNCW scored the next five points, later leading 9-6.
- Rhoads initiated a six-point Eagles run with a kill, and Thatcher served through the stretch, including her ace, giving Winthrop a 12-9 lead.
- UNCW tied the set at 12-12, but the Eagles moved back in front on an Elaina Murphy attack error and a Sychterz kill.
- Winthrop pushed the margin to 20-15 with a Little kill and consecutive Bennett kills.
- UNCW got as close as 23-20, but a service error put the Eagles at set point, and Sychterz and Bowen blocked Meredith Keefer to finish the set, 25-21.
NEXT UP
The Eagles return home to host NC Central on Saturday at 6 p.m. at Winthrop Coliseum.
Story courtesy of Winthrop Athletics.
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Thomas Hyslip lives in Tega Cay with his wife and daughter. After 27 years in the U.S. Army and Federal Law Enforcement, he retired to pursue his passion for teaching. Tom is now an Assistant Professor of Instruction at the University of South Florida. In 2 short years he has won 10 awards from the South Carolina Press Association, including first place in column writing, education beat reporting and best podcast.
