By Daniel Johnson,

Published in print Oct. 29, 2014

The Spartan Volleyball team ended their three-week homestead with a disappointing defeat against Western Carolina last Tuesday.

Though it had been the team’s first defeat in more than two weeks, the lost compounded with the fact that the Spartans had to travel on the road to face the Chattanooga Moccasins and the number one seeded Samford Bulldogs this weekend had UNCG looking at a tough stretch of game.

Yet, not only did the Spartans bounced back with back-to-back victories, but the team dominated in their performance, not even losing a set during the matches. 

Game 1: UNCG vs. Chattanooga

The team’s Saturday match-up against the Chattanooga Moccasins perhaps saw the best overall effort from the Spartans this season as the team won in straight sets (25-18, 25-16, and 25-15).

In the two-hour match, the Spartans dominated nearly every facet of the game.

Statistically, the team almost had three times fewer errors than the Moccasins (7 to 20), had an 8 to 1 victory in team blocks and had a hit percentage which more than tripled Chattanooga’s effort (.388 to .116).

In two out of the three sets, the Spartans hit .390 or better, while their opponent hit below .100 in two out of the three sets.

The Spartans received stellar performances from Julia Westerbur, who led both teams with 10 kills, and a .667 hit percentage. Also, Katherine Santiago had a strong game as the team’s libero finished with a match high 11 digs, and finished 2nd on the team with 6 assist.

Game 2: UNCG vs. Samford

On October 4, the Samford Bulldogs gave the Spartans their first lost at home as well as its first conference lost.

Despite UNCG winning each straight sets (25-19, 25-19, and 25-21), this match was much more competitive than its Chattanooga counterpart.

Samford’s lowest score in a single set was still higher than any of Chattanooga’s highest scores.  In the game, multiple Samford players led the match in individual categories.

Samford players Chelsi Carter led the match with 14 digs, and Michaela Reesor tied with UNCG’s Ashley Munch with 13 kills.

Still, there is a reason that the Spartans won this match in straight sets. The Blue and Gold had over a hundred point advantage in hit percentage, .245 to .131.

Individual performances from Sara Hohman, who recorded a double-double with 31 assists and 12 digs and Jessica Brezwyn’s dozen digs and 5 kills added to the end result of the game.

With the UNCG win, the Spartans avenged their earlier lost to top conference foe Samford. The Bulldogs gave the Spartans their first lost against a Southern Conference  opponent, and vice versa for the Spartans.

The past week saw the Spartans go 2-1 and winning 8 out of 11 sets. Adding last week’s total to the season total, the Spartan Volleyball team is now 14-9 for the year, and is third in the SoCon standings with a 6-4 record.

This week sees the Blue and Gold celebrating Halloween at home with a rematch against East Tennessee State University at 7pm.

The celebration will stretch over to the next day as the team will open up the month of November with a Homecoming game against the number two team in the SoCon, Furman at 5p.m. in Flemming Gym.

In the first weekend of October, the Spartans lost to both teams on the road in four sets.

Hopefully, like this past weekend with Samford, the team could bounce back and tie the season series with the teams.

The Spartans will have something they did not have before, home court advantage.