The Bulldogs and UNC Asheville volleyball fans sported pink to support breast cancer awareness Saturday afternoon in a packed Justice Center as UNCA defeated the Radford Highlanders 3-0.
“This is a big win for us because it’s the first game of conference in the second round. That keeps us on top at eight and one,” said senior Lauren Ficker. “We won 3-0 and that’s a big deal for us. It proves to us that we can play really hard. Last time they took us to five so that shows us that we are improving.”
The Bulldogs controlled the game as Ficker and junior Kelsey Benorden combined for 25 kills.
Benorden led the match with her 12th double-double of the season, and senior Libero Raquel Miotto continues to improve her standings.
With 16 digs for the match, she moved up to fifth place in the NCAA’s all-time career list for digs.
“I felt that we played very well once we got into our rhythm. The first set was back and forth and that’s kind of what volleyball is like, once you find your groove and get your momentum going,” said Head Coach Julie Torbett. “I felt like we controlled the rest of the match from about 15-15 in the first set. We are very close to being back to 100 percent healthy.”
With the last few matches of the season and the conference on the way, this couldn’t have come at a better time.
“We have talked about our injuries and struggled through them all season long and, finally, we see a light at the end of the tunnel,” Torbett said. “That is the most important thing. We tried to look at the whole picture, taking it one match at a time, but the main goal is to win the conference tournament.”
The first set of the match was close, as the ladies were back and forth with Radford.
The Bulldogs racked up a 21-18 lead until Radford rallied to tie the match. UNCA battled back with four consecutive points, winning the set 25-21.
“Saturday’s win got us back on track. When we lost to Coastal Carolina and ETSU, it was a reality check we needed. Dropping those two matches will help us tremendously down the road,” said Jenna Dover.
In the second and third sets of the match the Bulldogs held a steady lead, with Radford trailing and trying to find any way possible to win a set.
“Radford is a scrappy team that was desperately looking to beat us and prove that they are not the worst team in conference. Fortunately, we were able to control the match with tough serves and solid defense,” Dover said.
With eight games left in the season, the Bulldogs remain first in conference play and said they have a tough few weeks ahead of them.
The match against Radford may have been an easy win, but the Bulldogs have a much more difficult road ahead.
“We’re still first place in conference. That was probably the easiest team that we will play the rest of the season. We are a target for every single team, so we have to be prepared for every team to come after us. It would make their season to knock us off,” Torbett said.
The last seven matches of the season will be key for the team as they finish their season against Big South rivals to gain a top spot in the conference tournament.
“We would love to be a top seed going into the tournament. Being a one, two or three seed was our goal at the beginning of the season because then you get the bottom half of your conference in the first round. So that’s obviously the most ideal, but we’ve got a tough road ahead of us just starting out in the second half of the conference. It will come down to the wire in the last weekend,” Torbett said.
The winner of the conference tournament earns an invitation to the NCAA tournament, and the team is confident they will reach their goal.
“Talent and tenacity will keep us going down the stretch. We are confident in our ability. If we can stay focused and together as a team, we will bring a championship to this school,” Dover said.
The Bulldogs said they hope to bring home a conference championship, though this year the competition is proving to be more difficult than in the past.
“It’s going to be competitive. We are on top and second, third and fourth place are all a three-way tie. It’s going to come down to the end. There is not going to be one clear winner at the tournament. It’s anybody’s conference. So we have to work hard to get to the NCAA,” Torbett said.
The Bulldogs play their next four matches on the road, starting Saturday against Charleston Southern. They won’t return home until Nov. 13, playing host to Coastal Carolina at 7 p.m.
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