BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – Gardner-Webb had three players reach double-figures in kills, yet the Runnin' Bulldogs dropped the final two sets of the evening to fall to USC Upstate by a 3-2 score in the nightcap of the first day of the Runnin' Bulldog Invitational.
 
USC Upstate (1-4) took the match by scores of 25-22, 22-25, 21-25, 25-18, and 15-13, attacking at a .221 clip, while holding Gardner-Webb (2-3) to a .188 hitting percentage.
 
Keira Moore led the Runnin' Bulldogs with 18 kills on the evening, while Nicole Celarek (13) and Kaelyn Dyson (11) both reached double –digits.  Dyson led the team in blocks with five, while Emma Milstead had 23 digs.
 
Lily Dempsey led the Spartans with 20 kills, while McKenna Kirkpatrick had five blocks and Kaleigh Kelley had 22 digs.
 
USC Upstate would jump out to an early lead in the first set, and would lead by as much as six points at 17-11, until the Runnin' Bulldogs would go on a quick 5-3 run to pull within thee points at 19-16.  GWU would pull within two points at 24-22 after an attack error by USC Upstate's Payton Duncan, but the Spartans would take the next point to claim the first set by a 25-22 score.
 
The Runnin' Bulldogs would control much of the second set, building a lead as high as seven points at 18-11.  USC Upstate would pull within two points at 20-18, but a kill my Molly Johnston would stop the Spartan run, and Gardner-Webb would go on to take the set at 25-22 to tie the match at the break.
 
The third set was evenly contested, seeing 11 ties and five lead changes throughout its duration.  USC Upstate would lead by a 19-17 score, but the 'Dogs would score three straight points to take a 20-19 lead on a kill by Johnston, and GWU wouldn't trail again for the remainder of the set, taking a 25-21 decision and a 2-1 overall lead.
 
USC Upstate would answer in the fourth set, building an early six-point advantage at 11-5.  GWU would pull within two points at 14-12 after a service ace by Abbey Sprinkle, but the Spartans would pull away once again, taking the set by a 25-18 score to force the decisive fifth set.
 
The Runnin' Bulldogs started the final set on fire, going on a quick 7-3 run after a pair of kills by Johnston and Dyson.  GWU would expand its advantage to as high as five points at 10-5, but the Spartans would answer with an 8-2 run to take a 13-12 lead.  A kill by Moore would tie the set at 13-13, but the Spartans would take the next two points to claim a 15-13 set win and the overall match victory.
 
Gardner-Webb returns to action at 2:30 pm on Saturday afternoon, hosting Wofford to wrap up the Runnin' Bulldog Invitational.