ROCK HILL, S.C. — The Winthrop University volleyball team swept Virginia Tech 3-0 on Thursday at Winthrop Coliseum. Paige Bennett tallied a team-high 15 kills, while Lexi Thatcher delivered 35 assists, and Teagan Sychterz stuffed the box score with five blocks. The match set an attendance record at Winthrop Coliseum with 1,149 fans in attendance.
Top Performers
Kills – Bennett (15), Reece Rhoads (8), Maggie Czajka (6)
Aces – Alyah Cadavid (1), Lindsay Langner (1), Czajka (1)
Blocks – Sychterz (5), Rhoads (3), Sychterz-Laila Glover (1)
Assists – Thatcher (35), Addison Torain (4), Sychterz (2)
Digs – Thatcher (12), Bennett (7), Torain (5)
Set 1
- The Eagles overcame a 7-5 deficit with a surge led by a Sychterz kill, a Rhoads and Sychterz block, and a Glover kill to take a 10-8 lead.
- Virginia Tech tied the score at 11-11 and 12-12, but Winthrop regained control with key plays from Bennett, Rhoads, and Thatcher to lead 16-13.
- After Virginia Tech closed the gap to 16-14, Winthrop powered through with a 7-1 run, including a Sychterz kill and Cadavid ace, to build a 23-15 advantage.
- Virginia Tech managed two more points before Bennett set up set point, and Glover sealed it with a kill, 25-18.
Set 2
- Virginia Tech started strong with three straight kills, but Bennett’s two kills and Langner’s ace tied it at 5-5.
- The Hokies edged ahead to 14-11, yet Winthrop clawed back with a Sychterz-Glover block and Czajka’s ace to lead 19-17.
- After a tie at 19-19, the Eagles fired off four consecutive kills to pull ahead, then held off a late push to win 25-23.
Set 3
- The Eagles built a 6-2 cushion with contributions from Bennett, Czajka, and Rhoads, plus Bennett’s ace.
- Virginia Tech narrowed the margin to 6-5, but Winthrop extended the lead with a 4-0 run, aided by Glover and Bennett kills, to 14-8.
- Virginia Tech cut the lead to 15-12, but Winthrop closed the door with a 5-1 spurt, highlighted by a Sychterz block, to lead 20-13.
- Virginia Tech got within 24-20, but Czajka finished it off for the Eagles with a kill, 25-20.
NEXT UP
The Eagles remain at home to face Old Dominion on Saturday at 2 p.m. at Winthrop Coliseum.
Story courtesy of Winthrop Athletics.
Sign up for our Sunday Spectator. Delivered to your inbox every Sunday, with all the news from the week.
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.
