BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. –The Gardner-Webb volleyball team (9-10, 3-4) fell in four sets and dropped to fifth place in the Big South Conference after the loss to USC Upstate (10-9,3-4), Saturday, October 14. 
 
Freshman outside hitter Jenna Otts was everywhere for the 'Dawgs today, collecting 22 points, 19 kills, four block assists, and one solo block. Her freshman teammate, Madison Smith, followed behind with a double-double including 12 kills and 10 digs. 
 
Three 'Dawgs landed in double-digits for digs including Smith (10), freshman libero Molly Littlefield with 14, and sophomore libero Sophia Kotsovolos with 18., Gardner-Webb picked up a season-high 14 blocks including junior middle blocker Autumn Flowers and freshman middle blocker Paige Hoeder registering seven combined.
 
The first set opened up with the Spartans maintaining the lead all the way to 15-10 at the media timeout. Two kills from Otts and two errors by USC Upstate allowed GWU to cut the deficit to one at 15-14. The Spartans strung together four consecutive points to jump back in front at 19-14, before the two sides would trade points until set point at 24-21. Gardner-Webb would tie the score off of two kills and an error by Upstate to continue in extra points. At 26-26, an error and an emphatic block by Hoeder and Otts gave the 'Dawgs set one at 28-26.
 
Set two began with back-and-forth points being exchanged until Gardner-Webb secured the lead at 15-12. Five attacking errors and one service ace gave the Spartans a 18-15 lead late. The Runnin' Bulldogs would knock the margin back down to one at 20-19, but four straight points helped USC Upstate even the set count at one apiece. Upstate carried that momentum into set three leading big at 20-13, but a 7-1 run for Gardner-Webb brought the 'Dawgs within one at 21-20. Both sides would trade kills until GWU tied the score at 23-23 before consecutive kills landed the Spartans a 2-1 lead. 
 
In set four, Gardner-Webb was able to hold a comfortable lead for most of the set, including multiple five-point leads throughout. With the 'Dawgs in the lead at 23-15, a fifth set was looming until a 7-0 run capped off a four-set victory for the Spartans in dramatic fashion.
 
The Runnin' Bulldogs welcome two more Big South foes beginning on Friday, Oct. 20 at 6:00 p.m. against Charleston Southern University and concluding with Presbyterian College on Saturday, Oct. 21 at 2:00 p.m.