SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Presbyterian College Blue Hose volleyball team is set for another weekend of road contests against the USC Upstate Spartans and the UNC Asheville Bulldogs.
 
LAST TIME OUT
The Blue Hose swept the Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs last Friday on the road before falling to the Winthrop Eagles the following day. Ashley Miller and Celimar Hoyos led the charge over the weekend as both of these players earned their first Big South Weekly honor. Additionally, Anna Baranski earned her 15^th and 16^th double-doubles of the year after her performances against both Gardner-Webb and Winthrop.
 
GAMEDAY INFO – FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1 | 6:00 PM
MATCHUP – Presbyterian (6-16, 2-7) at USC Upstate (9-12, 4-4)
WATCH – ESPN+
LIVE STATS – Statbroadcast.com
 
GAMEDAY INFO – SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 2 | 2:00 PM
MATCHUP – Presbyterian (6-16, 2-7) at UNC Asheville (9-5, 3-3)
WATCH – ESPN+
LIVE STATS – Statbroadcast.com
 
A LOOK AT THE BLUE HOSE
- The Blue Hose currently hold a 6-16 record, securing their wins in hard-fought five-set matches against Delaware State, Temple, and Southern Miss along with straight-set victories over SC State and Gardner-Webb (x2).
- The team has averaged a .170 hitting percentage while taking 10.8 kills per set. They've also shown strength at the net, amassing 155 total blocks (1.8 blocks per set).
- Courtney Williams leads the team offensively with 206 kills (2.45 kills per set). Julia Yurkovich is not far behind with 182 kills of her own at 2.46 kills per set.
- Junior setter Anna Baranski has been instrumental, totaling 655 assists (7.80 per set) while also leading the team defensively with 267 digs (3.18 per set).
- Defensively, sophomore outside hitter Courtney Williams anchors the Blue Hose at the net with 71 total blocks, 17 of which are solo efforts. Brittney Daphnis is a close second, adding 61 blocks, including six solo blocks.
 
SCOUTING THE OPPONENT – USC UPSTATE
- The Spartans have recorded a 9-12 overall record so far this season, securing their victories over Queens, Davidson, West Georgia, Idaho, SC State, Gardner-Webb, Charleston Southern, Presbyterian, and Radford.
- Upstate has tallied 12.1 kills per set with a .191 hitting percentage.
- Junior middle blocker Ady O'Grady leads the team in kills with 203 (2.42 kills per set) while graduate student outside hitter Allison Palmi is close behind with 196 kills (2.51).
- Freshman setter Kamyla Vega David is the team's go-to playmaker with 715 assists (8.51 assists per set) on the year.
- Senior libero Julia Gladhill has totaled 397 digs (4.73 digs per set) to lead the Spartans this season.
- USC Upstate leads the all-time series between the two teams 12-10. Earlier this season, Upstate beat PC 3-1.
- Head coach Ali Skayhan is in her second season at the helm of the Spartans.
 
SCOUTING THE OPPONENT – UNC ASHEVILLE
- The Bulldogs have taken a 9-5 overall record so far this year while seeing victories over Morgan State, Western Carolina, Iona, Hampton, Maryland Eastern Shore, UNC Charlotte, Radford (x2), and Presbyterian.
- As a team, Asheville has averaged 12.4 kills per set while hitting at a .209 rate.
- Offensively, redshirt sophomore outside hitter Kylie Cackovic leads the team with 180 kills (3.27 kills per set).
- Junior setter Payton Rolfsen leads the Bulldogs in assists with 321 (5.84 assists per set).
- Defensively, senior libero Michelle Thao has amassed 236 digs (4.29 digs per set), placing her at the top of Asheville's leaderboard.
- The Bulldogs lead the all-time series between the two teams 22-12. Earlier this season, Asheville beat PC 3-0.
- Danielle Marante is in her first year at the head of the UNC Asheville volleyball program.
 
BIG SOUTH LEADERS
Individually, Anna Baranski stands out, ranking third in the conference with 7.80 assists per set. She also places eighth with an average of 3.18 digs per set. Julia Yurkovich has averaged 2.46 kills per set, ranking her 10^th in the conference. Courtney Williams is ranked eighth in the league with a .284 hitting percentage while also placing tied for sixth with 0.85 blocks per set.
 
Brittney Daphnis contributes significantly on defense, ranking fifth in the Big South with 0.90 blocks per set. Additionally, Celimar Hoyos holds seventh place in the conference with an average of 3.30 digs per set.
 
BLUE HOSE DOUBLE-DOUBLES
Presbyterian players have already recorded an impressive 21 double-doubles this year. Junior setter Anna Baranski has been at the forefront, achieving double-doubles in 16 of those contests, including a nine-match streak with double-figure assists and digs earlier in the season. Senior outside hitter Hannah Rowe has also made a significant impact, tallying five double-doubles, including a standout performance against Southern Miss where she notched a career-high 19 kills along with 14 digs.
 
BIG SOUTH WEEKLY AWARDS
Ashley Miller earned the title of Big South Player of the Week on Oct. 28 after her performance against Gardner-Webb and Winthrop. Playing a full rotation as an outside hitter, Miller delivered a remarkable weekend performance. She tallied 26 kills, averaging 4.33 kills per set, and set a new career-high with 18 kills in the team's sweep over Gardner-Webb. The sophomore also contributed nine digs, three blocks, and a service ace, showcasing her versatility and impact on both offense and defense.
 
Celimar Hoyos earned the title of Big South Libero of the Week on Oct. 28 after her performance against Gardner-Webb and Winthrop. Hoyos showcased her defensive prowess with an impressive 36 digs (6.00 digs per set) over six sets last weekend. She also contributed nine assists and a service ace, reinforcing her all-around impact and helping drive the team's performance on both ends of the court.