Box Score Greensboro, NC – Greensboro College's Volleyball team took the court tonight in the Semifinals of the USA South Conference Tournament. As the #2 seed in the tournament the Pride earned the right to host their matchup against the #3 seed Southern Virginia University Knights in Hanes Gym. This match had everything a fan could want from a match in which the winner clinches a spot in the Conference Championship game. The match was competitive and fiery with the added bonus of an electric atmosphere.
Southern Virginia got out to an early 4-1 lead within the first five points of the first set. Sensing the momentum shifting to the Knights, the Pride went on a run themselves. The Pride would win 4 out of the next 5 points to tie the first set up at 5-5. Both sides came to play, resulting in long rallies and excellent digs by each team as the score would stay close through the next ten points. The score would be tied at 10-10, 14-14, and even 20-20 with momentum swings every few points. The Knights would go up 24-23 but the match would be sent into extra play thanks to a huge Payton Shifflet kill (6 total in first set). However, the Knights would come up with two key digs defensively and eventually take the first set 26-24.
To begin the second set, SVU continued their momentum of the first set and got out to a 5-0 start over the Pride. The Pride, up for the fight, would storm back to take the lead 6-5 which forced the Knights to call a timeout that fired up the crowd in Hanes Gym. The timeout by SVU did not slow down the Pride as they would continue their dominate run and grow the lead to 11-6. This stretch of the second set was highlighted by the USA South Player of the Year Payton Shiflet and Rookie of the Year Morgan Mayfield. SVU would claw back during the middle part of the second set, bringing the score to a 16-14 Pride lead. Greensboro would put a stop to the SVU comeback bid and start pull away near the end of the set. The Pride would go on to win the second set 25-16 and tie the match up at 1-1.
The third set would start out with Greensboro leading 6-4 through the first ten points. The beginning of this set was highlighted by Jade Vrobel, who had three blocks, and Taylor Cotie who was outstanding playing in front of the net. The set would remain close with both the Pride and the Knights trading kills back and forth. The Pride would maintain the lead throughout the set and take a 15-14 lead into the final ten points. Both teams were trading points, but Greensboro never gave up the lead and would go into the final five points up 20-19. The ending of this set was a battle with long rallies and amazing defense. Greensboro would once again show their strength and go on to win the third set 25-22 to take a 2-1 lead in the match.
The fourth set started exactly how the Pride drew it up. They got to an early 5-1 lead with big plays coming from Jaylin Templeton and Kelci Brooks. SVU, with their season on the line, was not going to roll over. The Knights would fight back and cut the lead to two points at 9-7. The Pride would stay composed during the comeback attempt and wouldn't give up the lead. Greensboro held a 12-8 lead as the fourth set entered the midway point. It was during this part of the set where the Pride showed just how dominate they can be. Greensboro got big plays from multiple members of the team as they cruised to a commanding 15-8 lead. The fans in Hanes Gym could taste the birth into the championship round as the gym got louder and louder with each Pride point. Greensboro would slam the door on the Knights and go up 20-10 and eventually win the set 25-16, winning the match 3-0.
With the win tonight, the Pride have punched their ticket into the USA South Conference Tournament Championship Game. That match will take place on Saturday at 1:00 PM at Meredith College. The Pride Volleyball team will be attempting to win the program's first conference championship since 1997.
Alex Trepper - Athletics Communications Intern
