HIGH POINT, N.C. – After taking down the Buccaneers last Friday, securing their spot in Big South post season play, the sixth-seed Presbyterian College volleyball team will take on the third-seed USC Upstate Spartans in the quarterfinals of the 2024 Big South Conference Championship.
 
LAST TIME OUT
Last Friday the Blue Hose defeated the Charleston Southern Buccaneers as their final match of the regular season. This win brought the Buccaneers season to an end, while earning Presbyterian their spot as the sixth-seed in the 2024 Big South Championship.
 
BIG SOUTH TOURNAMENT
For the first time since 2014 the Blue Hose will compete in back-to-back years of Big South post season competition. This year's championship consists of the top six Big South volleyball programs, transitioning from just four teams in prior years. See the attached bracket for more information on how this year's tournament will play out.

GAMEDAY INFO – FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 22 | 6:00 PM
MATCHUP – Presbyterian (9-18, 5-9) vs USC Upstate (13-14, 8-6)
WATCH – ESPN+
LIVE STATS – Statbroadcast.com
 
A LOOK AT THE BLUE HOSE
- The Blue Hose finished the regular season with a 9-18 record, securing their wins in hard-fought five-set matches against Delaware State, Temple, Southern Miss, USC Upstate, and Radford along with straight-set victories over SC State and Gardner-Webb (x2), and a four-set win over Charleston Southern.
- The team has averaged a .170 hitting percentage while taking 10.9 kills per set. They've also shown strength at the net, amassing 189.5 total blocks (1.8 blocks per set).
- Courtney Williams leads the team offensively with 261 kills (2.49 kills per set). Julia Yurkovich is not far behind with 223 kills of her own at 2.35 kills per set.
- Junior setter Anna Baranski has been instrumental, totaling 761 assists (7.25 per set) while also being one of the teams dig leaders with 325 (3.10 per set).
- Defensively, sophomore outside hitter Courtney Williams anchors the Blue Hose at the net with 81 total blocks, 17 of which are solo efforts. Elyse Hutchinson and Brittney Daphnis are close behind, adding 73 total blocks each, including seven solo blocks.
 
SCOUTING THE OPPONENT – USC UPSTATE
- The Spartans finished the regular season with a 13-14 overall record, securing their victories over Queens, Davidson, West Georgia, Idaho, SC State, Gardner-Webb (x2), Charleston Southern (x2), Presbyterian, Radford, and UNC Asheville (x2).
- Upstate has tallied 12.5 kills per set with a .191 hitting percentage.
- Junior middle blocker Ady O'Grady leads the team in kills with 269 (2.47 kills per set) while junior right side Savannah Page is close behind with 249 kills (2.44 kills per set).
- Freshman setter Kamyla Vega David is the team's go-to playmaker with 884 assists (8.84 assists per set) on the year.
- Senior libero Julia Gladhill has totaled 507 digs (4.65 digs per set) to lead the Spartans this season.
- USC Upstate leads the all-time series between the two teams 12-11. Earlier this season, Upstate beat PC 3-1 before falling to the Blue Hose 2-3.
- Head coach Ali Skayhan is in her second season at the helm of the Spartans.

BIG SOUTH LEADERS
Individually, Baranski ranks fourth in the conference with 7.25 assists per set. She also places ninth with an average of 3.10 digs per set. Courtney Williams is ranked ninth in the league with a .261 hitting percentage while also placing 10^th with 2.49 kills per set. Brittney Daphnis contributes significantly on defense, ranking tied for sixth in the Big South with 0.83 blocks per set. Additionally, Celimar Hoyos holds eighth place in the conference with an average of 3.48 digs per set.
 
BLUE HOSE DOUBLE-DOUBLES
Presbyterian players have already recorded an impressive 26 double-doubles this year. Junior setter Anna Baranski has been at the forefront, achieving double-doubles in 19 of those contests, including a nine-match streak with double-figure assists and digs earlier in the season. Most recently, Baranski took a pair of triple-doubles against USC Upstate and UNC Asheville.
 
Ashley Miller tallied her first double-double of the season against Radford with 18 kills and 14 digs. She added another later in the season against CSU with 12 kills and 10 digs.

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.