ASHEVILLE, N.C. – The Presbyterian College Blue Hose volleyball team (7-17, 3-8) fell to the UNC Asheville Bulldogs (11-6, 5-4) after a hard-fought four-set match 3-1 (20-25, 25-18, 19-25, 14-25).
 
COACH BENSON'S THOUGHTS
"Tough road loss on a quick turnaround from our Upstate match. Proud of how we played with different roles put on different players. Anna with two triple doubles on the weekend shows her total game and skill level. We will reset for next weekend to finish out our conference season at home."
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
FIRST SET
The Bulldogs opened the first set on a high note, claiming the first two points, including a service ace. However, Presbyterian quickly responded with kills by Anna Baranski and Courtney Williams to tie the score. Asheville then regained control with three consecutive kills, but Elyse Hutchinson stopped their momentum with a powerful kill, keeping the Blue Hose close behind. The teams traded points, bringing the score to 9-7 in Asheville's favor. Despite a service ace by Courtney Aulbaugh, the Bulldogs extended their lead to 13-9.
 
Presbyterian fought back, with Williams securing a kill, but Asheville surged ahead with a five-point run, creating an 18-10 advantage. PC found a spark when Ava Smith's kill ignited a four-point streak for the Blue Hose. A series of kills from Julia Yurkovich and Hutchinson kept PC in contention, though Asheville maintained a 21-16 lead.
 
After a timely Presbyterian timeout, the Blue Hose captured three of the next four points, fueled by two more kills from Baranski. Williams contributed a late kill, adding another point to PC's total, yet Asheville managed to close out the first set with a 25-20 victory.
 
SECOND SET
The second set began with both teams trading points, staying even at 4-4, with PC's points coming from two kills by Baranski and one each from Smith and Aliza Hart. As the set progressed, Smith and Williams each contributed kills, keeping the score tied at 8-8.
 
The Blue Hose then gained momentum, scoring four of the next five points. Behind kills from Brittney Daphnis and Baranski, along with a solo block by Hutchinson, PC took a 12-9 lead. Asheville answered with a four-point streak to edge ahead, but PC quickly tied the score at 13-13. Despite a strong block from Williams and Hutchinson, the Bulldogs pulled ahead again at 17-14.
 
The Blue Hose evened the score at 17-17 with kills from Daphnis and Smith. After an Asheville point, Yurkovich and Baranski took control, each notching three kills during an impressive eight-point run that closed out the set at 25-18.

THIRD SET
Williams opened the third set with a powerful kill, giving PC the first point before the Bulldogs responded with four consecutive points to take an early lead. The Blue Hose quickly rallied, tying the score at 5-5 behind two kills from Hutchinson and a service ace from Amaris Alvarez.
 
Both teams continued to battle, reaching a 10-10 tie, but Asheville managed to pull ahead by taking four of the next five points, establishing a 14-11 advantage. A kill from Hutchinson helped PC narrow the gap, bringing the score to 14-13, but two Bulldog points kept them up by three.
 
Presbyterian added another point, but Asheville surged forward with a four-point run, extending their lead to 20-14. Hutchinson and Yurkovich combined for a block, and Daphnis added a kill, trimming the deficit to 21-17. Although Baranski contributed two late kills, Asheville held on to take the set 25-19.
 
FOURTH SET
Despite a kill from Hutchinson, the Bulldogs carried momentum from the previous set, quickly jumping out to a 6-1 lead. Daphnis responded with a powerful kill and then teamed up with Yurkovich for a block, narrowing PC's deficit to 7-4.
 
Asheville took the next three points, but PC answered with two of their own, highlighted by another kill from Hutchinson. The Bulldogs then added three more points, with PC replying with two, keeping the gap steady.
 
A six-point run from Asheville extended their lead to 19-8. A service ace from Alvarez brought PC to the 10-point mark, but the Bulldogs continued their push, reaching 21 points. A pair of Asheville attack errors gave the Blue Hose some late points, but the Bulldogs ultimately closed out the match with a 25-14 fourth-set win.
 
NOTABLES
- Anna Baranski secures back-to-back triple-doubles with 13 Assists, 11 Kills, and 16 Digs.
- Hart finished with 14 assists and nine digs.
- Hoyos totaled 16 digs.
 
UP NEXT
The Blue Hose return home for a pair of conference matches in Templeton next weekend, beginning with one against Radford on Friday, November 8 at 6:00 p.m.