SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Powered by Anna Baranski's triple-double and career-high performances from Courtney Williams, Celimar Hoyos, and Aliza Hart, the Presbyterian College Blue Hose volleyball team (7-16, 3-7) secured a hard-fought 3-2 (25-22, 17-25, 19-25, 25-23, 15-11) road victory over the USC Upstate Spartans (10-12, 5-4) in an electrifying five-set match on Friday night.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
FIRST SET
Upstate claimed the first point of the match, but Williams and Baranski quickly answered with kills, sparking a three-point streak for the Blue Hose. Williams added another kill before the Spartans evened the score at 4-4. Upstate then took an 8-5 advantage by scoring four of the next five points. Kills from Ava Smith and Julia Yurkovich narrowed PC's deficit to 8-7, and with additional kills from Smith and Baranski, the Blue Hose tied it at 9-9. The Spartans edged ahead to 11-9, but Yurkovich's well-placed right-side kill kept Presbyterian within a point. Another Williams kill leveled the score at 12-12, and a strong strike from Brittney Daphnis momentarily gave PC the lead, only for Upstate to equalize at 13-13.
 
After the score moved to 14-14, Williams' powerful kill sent the teams into the media timeout. Resuming play, a Spartan attack error and a strong block from Elyse Hutchinson and Yurkovich prompted Upstate to take a timeout, with PC leading 17-14. Upstate responded with two quick points, cutting their deficit to 17-16, but a Yurkovich kill followed by her solo block extended PC's lead to 19-16, leading the Spartans to use their final timeout. The teams exchanged points as Smith added a skillful soft-touched kill, but Upstate managed to close the gap to 20-19. Following a Presbyterian timeout, Yurkovich delivered a perfectly timed kill. Two points from the Spartans tied the score at 21-21, setting up a tense end to the set.
 
Baranski's kill, a service ace from Hoyos, and a Spartan attack error brought the Blue Hose to set point at 24-21. After a final point from Upstate, Hart sealed the set for Presbyterian with a decisive kill, ending it at 25-22.
 
SECOND SET
Daphnis and Williams recorded early kills in the second set, quickly bringing the score to a 5-5 tie. However, the Spartans responded with a six-point run, pushing their lead to 11-5. Following a timeout, PC managed to score two of the next three points, including a kill by Smith. Although Upstate went on a three-point streak, a service error and a timely kill from Baranski brought the score to 15-9 in favor of the Spartans. Upstate continued to apply pressure, forcing PC to call a timeout at 17-9 after two more Spartan points.
 
After the break, the teams traded points, with Baranski delivering a powerful right-side kill. Yurkovich and Hutchinson combined for a key block, but Upstate maintained a comfortable lead at 21-14. As the Spartans reached 22 points, Smith kept battling, adding another kill, followed by a service ace from Hutchinson. Despite this push, Upstate reached set point at 24-16. PC managed to secure one more point, but the set ultimately went to the Spartans, 25-17.
 
THIRD SET
Williams secured an early kill, but Upstate quickly jumped to a 3-1 lead. Another Williams kill cut the deficit to one, and a series of points from both sides featured two kills by Hutchinson, bringing the score to 5-4. The Spartans responded with a three-point run, widening their lead to 8-4. The Blue Hose answered back with kills from Daphnis and Yurkovich, trimming PC's deficit to two. The teams continued to trade points, with additional kills from Yurkovich, Williams, and Hutchinson, making it 11-9. Another kill from Williams kept the game close, but Upstate led 15-11 as the teams headed into the media timeout.
 
Shortly after the break, Yurkovich registered a kill, but Upstate countered with a four-point streak, extending their lead to 20-12. Following a timeout by PC, kills from Daphnis and Baranski sparked a four-point run, narrowing the gap to 20-16 and prompting a Spartans timeout. Coming out of the timeout, Daphnis delivered a huge solo block, and Yurkovich added another kill to bring PC within two points. Despite a final kill from Yurkovich, Upstate held on to close out the set with a 25-19 win.
 
FOURTH SET
The Spartans opened the fourth set with a quick kill, but the Blue Hose responded with three kills of their own, including two from Williams, to jump ahead 3-1. Kills from Hutchinson and Williams, along with a PC service error, brought the score to 5-2. Over the next few exchanges, PC added points with a Williams kill and a block assist from Yurkovich and Hutchinson, but the Spartans rallied to tie the set at 8-8. Baranski then ended the Spartan run with a powerful kill, maintaining the tie at 9-9. Although Upstate briefly took the lead, PC responded with three consecutive points on kills from Williams and Baranski, and a block by Hutchinson and Williams, regaining a 12-10 advantage.
 
After Upstate evened the score at 12-12, Williams fired back with two more kills. The teams continued trading points, reaching a 14-14 tie before a Spartan service error took us to the media timeout. Coming out of the break, Upstate scored first, but Yurkovich followed with a solo block and a kill, prompting the Spartans to call a timeout at 17-15. The teams continued to exchange points, with Daphnis contributing two kills, and PC reached the 20-point mark with a Baranski kill, leading Upstate to use their final timeout.
 
The Spartans responded with two kills, narrowing PC's lead to 20-19, which led the Blue Hose to call a timeout. Following the break, PC added two more points with a Williams kill and a Hoyos service ace. However, the Spartans rallied once more, scoring three straight points to tie the game at 22-22, prompting a final PC timeout. A Spartan service error restored PC's lead, and a powerful Williams kill put the Blue Hose up 24-22. Upstate managed another kill, but a Spartan attack error ultimately secured the set for Presbyterian, 25-23.
 
FIFTH SET
Courtney Aulbaugh, building on her momentum from the previous set, opened the fifth set with a service ace to give the Blue Hose the first point. Upstate quickly tied it up, but two consecutive points went to PC, establishing an early 3-1 lead. The teams then traded points, with Smith adding a kill, bringing the score to 5-3. Upstate answered with two points of their own, leveling the score at 5-5. The tie held at 7-7 after kills from Yurkovich and Williams, but a Spartan kill allowed Upstate to reach eight first, prompting a side switch.
 
Although Baranski added a kill, the Spartans moved ahead 10-8. Williams responded with a kill, but Upstate kept their lead with one of their own. Hutchinson's kill kept PC close, and a timely service ace by Baranski brought the score to 11-11. After an Upstate timeout, the Blue Hose took a 13-11 lead on a Spartan attack error and a smart kill from Hutchinson. Upstate called another timeout, but a block by Williams and Hutchinson brought up match point. Hutchinson then combined with Smith for a final block, sealing the fifth set and the match for the Blue Hose, 15-11.
 
NOTABLES
- Baranski achieved the program's first triple-double since her previous one against Chattanooga in 2022.
- Hart set a new personal best with 30 assists.
- Williams reached a career-high with 20 kills, while maintaining an impressive .245 hitting percentage.
- Hoyos anchored the defense with a career-high 28 digs.
 
UP NEXT
The Blue Hose continue their road journey with a trip to UNC Asheville to face the Bulldogs on Saturday, November 2 at 2:00 p.m.