BOONE, N.C.- Appalachian State University volleyball continued with its strong performances Saturday, as the Mountaineers drilled USC Upstate in three sets. The Apps dominated the Spartans, earning 25-20, 25-19 and 25-21 set wins.
Appalachian is a now a perfect 6-0 on the season while the Spartans fall to 1-4 . The 6-0 mark is the Black and Gold's best start to a campaign dating back to 1981, as no other Mountaineer squad in program history has begun with six straight wins. The victory also increases Appalachian's home winning streak to six matches.

A balanced Mountaineer attack helped Appalachian earn the five point first set win, as Alison Blasingame, Meghann Forshey and Caroline Sedon all paced the Black and Gold.

USC Upstate jumped on top early with Cori Harris recording two kills, but after the set was knotted at seven apiece it was all ASU.

Forshey got Appalachian clicking offensively and the Black and Gold proceeded to go on a 4-0 run, one that was never answered by the Spartans.

A strong net presence enabled ASU to pick up the first set victory, as Blasingame recorded a solo block and Kelly Rhein and Sedon combined for a block assist.

Final points down the stretch by junior Anna Wagner and Blasingame earned the Apps the 1-0 match lead.

The Spartans picked up their pace to open second set action as they rattled the Mountaineers who found themselves behind by four points early on.

Forshey and Wagner kills kept ASU alive, enabling the Black and Gold to go on a 6-1 streak to regain the set advantage up 10-9.

A heated battle, the set was tied three more times, but back-to-back block assists by the duo of Blasingame and Rhein and Blasingame and Seeds allowed Appalachian to narrowly stay on top.

Three ASU errors down the stretch made it interesting, but Blasingame came through once again, tallying her second set winning point of the match to earn the Apps the commanding 2-0 match lead.

Blasingame finished the match with six block assists to go along with three kills and solo block.

Sloppy play and struggling to gather any rhythm down the stretch hindered the Mountaineers, who saw a 23-14 lead dwindle to just three points late in the third set.

The Spartan's 6-0 streak was not enough, as Wagner put an end to their run and a final Forshey kill earned the Apps the win.

Putting its undefeated record and home winning streak on the line, ASU returns to action tonight for the tournament finale of the Appalachian Invitational, as the Apps battle Valparaiso. The match is slated to begin at 7 p.m. in the Holmes Center. The Crusaders were victorious in their other two matches of the tournament.