Volleyball Shuts Down UNCG in Bash in the Boro Finale

Saturday, August 26

Statesboro, GA

5:00 p.m.

Georgia Southern University

2-0,0-0Sun Belt

UNCG

0-3,0-0SoCon

UNC Greensboro

Ga. Southern

Photo by: AJ Henderson - Georgia Southern Athletics

8/26/2023 7:18:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score

STATESBORO– Georgia Southern volleyball (2-0) stormed through UNCG (0-3) in the finale of the Bash in the Boro tournament, running away with sets 1 and 3, winning 3-0 (25-13, 25-23, 25-9).

"We talked about it going in that we thought we were the better team," head coach Chad Willis said. "I think we did a good job of setting the tone in set one, and while there was a lull in set two, we challenged ourselves to be a little more physical around the net in the third set and I think we did that."

In the first set, after trading blows, the Eagles went on a 9-1 run to stake themselves to an 11-5 lead. Chamblee Russell chipped in three kills, including back-to-back, to take the first frame at a convincing 25-13 edge.

The second set was a bit closer, as the Eagles ultimately won 25-23, but not before staving off a late 4-1 run.

In the final set, it was all Georgia Southern, and late, almost all Ailie Hair. GS went on a 12-1 run to close it out, including four blocks and a kill by Hair to seal an impressive 25-9 victory for the Eagles.

"I was watching the hitters closely [in the third set]," Hair said. "I was taking what Coach Taylor told me and using that, and their hitters made it pretty easy for me."

Russell led the way with eight kills, while Jillian Gray contributed seven of her own. Hair's seven blocks and 12 points were a match-high, while Russell's .583 hitting percentage paced the Eagles. Ashlyn Lovett also had 17 digs.

"Although it was a good weekend, and we will celebrate the heck out of it, there's a lot of fight in this team and they're not satisfied," Willis said. "It's going to take us coming in every day, getting after it, grinding and going to work."

The Eagles return to action for the Eagle Invitational next weekend, where they will host George Washington, Charleston and Stetson.