Volleyball Sweeps Georgia Southern on Senior Day

BOONE, N.C. -- Appalachian State volleyball posted its sixth straight victory by a 25-20, 29-27, 25-16 score over Georgia Southern on Senior Day inside the Holmes Center on Sunday.

Prior to the contest, App State honored Sydney Hinds, Melissa McMath, Becky Porter and Jenna Talbert for their contributions to the program.

The victory improves the Mountaineers record to 19-7 on the season and 11-3 in the Sun Belt. The Black and Gold need one win or one Coastal Carolina loss over the final two contests next weekend to secure the Sun Belt East Division title and earn a double bye in the Sun Belt Tournament. App State will play at Troy on Friday at 7:30 p.m. EST and at South Alabama on Nov. 11 at 1:30 p.m. EST.

Appalachian also concludes its home season with nine victories, which are the most for the program since the 2015 season.

With the scored knotted at 9-9 in the opening set, the Mountaineers won three straight points to jump in front 12-9. Georgia Southern (8-21, 2-12 SBC) countered with the next two points, but App State won the next five points to open a 17-11 advantage. A kill from Kara Spicer clinched the opening frame for the Black and Gold by a 25-20 count.

Set 2 was tight and featured 11 ties. The Eagles built a 24-21 lead late in the frame, inly to see the Mountaineers rally with three straight points to tie the score at 24-24. The score would be tied three more times before a kill from Emma Longley put the Apps up 28-27. On the next point, Longley's attack was originally ruled out, but a challenge from head coach Matt Ginipro determined an Eagle touch on the play to give the Mountaineers the point and the set.

The Black and Gold jumped out to a 10-5 lead in Set 3 and never let Georgia Southern get closer than four points the rest of the way, cruising to a 25-16 victory to finish off the sweep.

On offense, Spicer led the way for App State with 15 kills and a .444 hitting mark. She also tallied four block assists. 

Longley finished with 13 kills and six digs. Porter added 42 assists, seven digs and four kills.

On defense, Emma Reilly recorded a team-high 10 digs, with Sydney Farthing adding nine and Hinds finishing with seven.