Nov. 18, 2006

Box Score

Boone, N.C. - Theresa Hart recorded 15 kills and Branagan Fuller added 14 kills as UNC Greensboro defeated Furman 3-0 (30-21, 30-22, 30-28) in the quarterfinals of the 2006 Southern Conference Volleyball Championships at the Holmes Convocation Center in Boone, N.C.

Whitney Purser and Nicole Palazzo each recorded 10 kills for the Paladins in a losing effort. Courtney Stewardson recorded 34 set assists and Kim Tonkin notched 11 defensive saves for Furman. Palazzo tallied six total blocks, while Kerry Wooten added five total blocks (one solo).

UNCG jumped on top of Furman from the beginning, racing out to a quick 7-2 lead off of three Furman hitting errors. The teams traded points before the Spartans reeled off four straight to increase their lead to 13-5 in the first game. The Paladins fought back to within five points at 22-17, but UNCG won eight of the next 12 to take game one by a 30-21 score.

The Spartans took another early lead in game two, winning the first four points to lead 4-0, on three kills and a block. After UNCG built a six point lead at 18-12, Furman cut into the lead at 21-18, but another UNC Greensboro run, six Spartan kills, two blocks and two Furman hitting errors, ended game two at 30-22.

Furman got momentum back after the intermission, taking a quick 11-5 lead behind the serve of Tonkin. UNCG battled back to within one at 17-16 before Furman reeled off six straight points to take a 23-26 lead. The Paladins held at 28-23 lead before UNCG took the last seven points to clinch game three 30-28, and earn a spot in Saturday's semifinal match.

With the win, UNCG improves to 22-12 overall this year. Furman falls to 19-11 on the season. UNCG will return to action on Saturday afternoon to face host Appalachian State in the semifinals of the tournament.