GREENSBORO, NC--The Greensboro College volleyball team kicked off their USA South Quad match on Saturday by upending Huntingdon 3-0. In then night cap the Pride held on to defeat LaGrange 3-2.
The Pride came out fast in the first set taking an early 9-1 lead. Greensboro took their largest lead at 19-9 but Huntingdon chipped away slowly getting to within 20-15.The Pride held on for the 25-20 victory down the stretch and the 1-0 advantage.
Huntingdon jumped out to a quick 5-1 lead in the second, before extending their lead to 12-8. The Pride then used a 7-0 push taking their first lead of the set at 15-12. Down the stretch both teams traded points until the score was tied at 21-21. However, Greensboro closed the set on a 4-0 run winning 25-21 and 2-0 match lead.
In the third set with the score tied at 5-5, the Pride used a 5-0 push jumping out to a 10-5 lead. The Hawks fought back knotting things at 16-16. Huntingdon then briefly took a 17-16 lead before Greensboro ran off five straight points retaking a 21-17 lead and eventually the 25-22 set win and the match 3-0.
Breana Baker and Megan Baranko led the way with ten kills apiece. Darrian Bolt had a match high 19 assists while Bari Tressler chipped in with 13. Liz Widenhouse paced the way with 11 digs.
In the second match of the day, Greensboro College jumped out to an early 1-0 lead by winning set one 25-23.
After winning the first set, Greensboro College opened play in the second set on a 6-0 run for the early 6-0 advantage. Later in the set, the Panthers were able to pull within three points at 14-11 forcing the Pride to burn their first timeout of the set. Coming out of the short break, the Pride was able to hold their lead pulling away for a 25-21 set victory and 2-0 lead in the match.
During the third set, Greensboro jumped out to an early 4-3 lead but LaGrange controlled the match until the score was 24-18. The Pride made a late run thanks in part to a 4-0 push but fell 25-22, but still held a 2-1 lead in the match.
The Panthers jumped out to an early 4-0 lead in the fourth set, but the Pride fought back with a 3-0 run getting to within 4-3. LaGrange went on to extend the lead to 12-6. Greensboro used a 4-0 run behind three straight service aces by Baranko getting to within 17-14. However, the Panthers held off the Pride down the stretch winning 25-21 and evening the match at 2-2.
Greensboro College fell behind early in the fifth set of play, but was able to come storming back taking a 9-3 lead following an 8-1 run. However, the Panthers were able to pull to within 12-11 before pulled away for a 15-11 victory winning the match 3-2.
Liz Widehouse led the Pride with 30 kills while Breana Baker added 10. Bari Tressler passed for a team high 27 assists while her Pride teammate Darrian Bolt was close behind with 26.
With the two wins on the day he Pride move their record to 16-12 overall and 8-8 USA South. Greensboro gets back into action on Wednesday at home when they welcome USA North opponent Averett University to Hanes Gym. The volleyball team will honor their two seniors prior to the start of the contest.
