CLINTON, S.C. – Despite a close third set, the Presbyterian College Blue Hose volleyball team (5-14, 1-5) fell to the UNC Asheville Bulldogs (8-3, 2-1) 3-0 (20-25, 22-25, 30-32).
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
FIRST SET
The Blue Hose came out firing, quickly scoring four of the first five points of the match. Key kills from Courtney Williams and Julia Yurkovich, along with a sharp ace from Brittney Daphnis, set the early tone. However, UNC Asheville responded with a surge of their own, taking six of the next seven points to grab a 7-5 lead.
 
Kills from Anna Baranski and Ava Smith soon tied the game at 7-7, but the Bulldogs reclaimed momentum, scoring four of the next five points. A service error by Asheville brought the score to 11-9, but a five-point streak from the Bulldogs extended their lead to 16-9.
 
A key block from Williams, Daphnis, and Elyse Hutchinson, an ace from Daphnis, and another Yurkovich kill brought the Blue Hose back into the match, cutting their deficit to 17-15 and forcing Asheville to call a timeout.
 
After the break, the Bulldogs managed to edge ahead, winning four of the next five points for a 21-16 lead. A kill from Yurkovich and a pair of Asheville errors closed the gap to just two points. However, a late kill from Hutchinson wasn't enough to stop Asheville from closing out the set with a 25-20 victory.
 
SECOND SET
Presbyterian opened the second set by claiming the first two points, including a strong kill from Daphnis. However, Asheville quickly responded, taking six of the next seven points to grab a 6-3 lead. Yurkovich ended the Bulldogs' run with a powerful kill, but Asheville stretched their advantage to 9-4 after another three-point burst.
 
The Blue Hose capitalized on an opponent's attack error, but the Bulldogs continued to press, taking the next three scores. Presbyterian fought back, going on a four-point run highlighted by an ace from Baranski and kills from Williams and Daphnis, narrowing the gap to 12-10.
 
Both teams traded points until Asheville held a 15-13 lead. The Bulldogs scored three unanswered points to extend their lead to 18-13. Smith responded for PC, delivering a pair of crucial kills as the Blue Hose trimmed the deficit to 19-17.
 
The teams exchanged points, with Smith contributing two more kills, bringing the score to 23-20 in Asheville's favor. Yurkovich's kill kept Presbyterian within striking distance at 23-21, but Asheville reached set point at 24-21. Ultimately, the Bulldogs closed out the set with a 25-22 victory.
 
THIRD SET
The Bulldogs jumped to a quick 3-1 lead early in the third set, but a kill from Williams brought Presbyterian back, tying the score at 3-3. Asheville responded with a kill, but Smith dominated the next stretch with three kills, while Hutchinson added two more, propelling the Blue Hose to an 8-4 lead. Asheville notched their fifth point of the set before Smith registered yet another kill.
 
Both teams exchanged points, highlighted by a service ace from Celimar Hoyos and another kill from Smith. Asheville then went on a six-point run to tie the score at 12-12, prompting Presbyterian to call a timeout.
 
Following the break, the Blue Hose regained momentum with three straight points, including a quick kill from Yurkovich. Asheville managed a kill, but Presbyterian answered with two more points, featuring a huge block from Yurkovich and Hutchinson to extend the lead to 17-13. After an Asheville timeout, the teams continued to trade points. Hutchinson stayed hot as she took three more kills to keep PC ahead 22-18.
 
However, Asheville responded with a four-point run, tying the set at 22-22 and forcing another PC timeout. Coming out of the break, both teams took kills before Asheville called set point at 24-23. A critical service error by the Bulldogs tied the score at 24-24.
 
The tension mounted as a Bulldogs kill gave them the advantage, only for another service error to level the score at 25-25. Asheville blocked a PC attack to go up 26-25, but Hutchinson's clutch kills kept PC alive at 26-26. Yurkovich's kill then called set point for the Blue Hose, but Asheville answered right back. A Bulldogs attack error put PC at set point again, but Asheville responded to tie it at 28-28.
 
Smith stepped up with a kill to put PC ahead, but Asheville answered with one of their own. Baranski's kill gave Presbyterian the lead once more, but another Asheville kill evened it at 30-30. This time, Asheville gained the advantage and sealed the set with an ace, closing out the third set 32-30.
 
UP NEXT
The Blue Hose will stay in Templeton for their Alumni match against the USC Upstate Spartans on Sunday at 2:00 p.m.