GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Appalachian State volleyball swept past Winthrop 29-27, 29-27, 25-20 to close out its 2018 non-conference slate on Friday afternoon in Greenville, S.C.
The Mountaineers end their non-conference season with an 8-4 mark.
The first two sets were tight, with the Black and Gold winning by identical 29-27 scores. In Set 1, App State lead 16-9 before the Eagles (3-8) stormed back to tie the score at 16-16. With the score tied at 27-27 in the opening set, Appalachian got a kill and service ace from
Emma Longley to capture the opening frame. The Mountaineers saved three set points in the second frame and won the final three points of the set, with kills coming from
Grace Morrison and
Kara Spicer, to build a 2-0 lead.
In Set 3, App State used a 5-0 spurt midway through the frame to build a 15-9 edge. Winthrop would pull within three points at 23-20, before a kill from Longley and a service ace from Spicer closed out the set and clinched the sweep.
Longley paced the Black and Gold with 18 kills, while
Victoria Wilform reached double figure kills for the second consecutive contest, tallying 12. Morrison added seven kills and
Anna Kincaid chipped in with five kills and four blocks (all block assists).
Reigning Sun Belt Setter of the Week
Becky Porter posted her second straight double-double with 38 assists and 14 digs.
Emma Reilly recorded a match-high 22 digs, marking the second time this season she has had at least 20 digs in a contest.
The Mountaineers tallied 49 kills and eight service aces in the win.
Appalachian State will return to action on Sept. 21 and Sept. 22 during the opening weekend of Sun Belt play. On Sept. 21, App State will play at Georgia Southern at 6:30 p.m. and will take on Georgia State in Atlanta on Sept. 22 at 7 p.m.
