SPARTANBURG S.C.: CSU bounced back from a tournament-opening defeat to beat Gardner Webb (25-23, 11-25, 28-26, 21-25, 15-11) on day two of the Quality Inn & Suites Spartan Classic in Spartanburg S.C. Sep 17.

CSU (3-10) was led by senior Amy Nokes who recorded a double-double notching 14 kills to go along with 12 digs. Ashley Higginbothem led the team with 20 digs. Kirsten Strusknes had her best game as a Buccaneer recording 36 assists and 14 digs. On the afternoon the Lady Bucs totaled 43 kills, 41 assists, 87 digs, and hit for.062.

GWU(3-11) Tyler Cockrell led the Runnin' Bulldogs with 17 kills.

Garder Webb started the match with a kill, CSU would quickly answer as Amy Nokes sent in a kill of her own to tie the set at 1-1. Nokes would continue to rack up points scoring two service aces to put the Lady Bucs up 6-2. Wynter Davis would send in a kill to put CSU up 8-4. A Syndey Tracy kill coupled with some GWU errors would help CSU stretch the advantage 16-11. GWU would battle back to close the gap 16-14 before Wynter Davis would notch a kill to stretch the lead to 17-14. Kills by Kirsten Struksnes, Amy Nokes and Syndey Tracy would put CSU up 21-16. The Runnin' Bulldogs would not quit, eventually closing the gap to two points late in the set. Errors would spell the end of GWU chances as the Lady Bucs won the first set 25-23.

GWU came out of the gate strong in the second set, taking an early 3-0 lead. A kill by Amy Nokes and a block by Wynter Davis and Erin LaVenice would knot the match at 3-3. GWU would attempt to build a lead before a Wynter Davis kill closed the gap to one 6-5. Although GWU would apply pressure, CSU would hand around thanks to kills from Kayla Klinger and Sydney Tracy would bring the set 15-9 GWU. The Runnin' Bulldogs would begin to pull away eventually closing out CSU 25-11.

The third set started just as the second did, with GWU taking the 3-1 advantage. Andrea Keesee would close the gap with a kill to bring CSU within one 3-2. GWU would make it 5-2 before errors would bring CSU back, tying the game 5-5. Strong defense and a kill by Sydney Tracy would put CSU up 9-7. Numerous GWU errors to go along with an Erin LaVenice kill would put CSU up 14-10. Sydney Tracy would extend the lead, as a kill put CSU up 16-11. The Runnin' Bulldogs would bounce back to take a 17-16 lead, before Ashley Johnston tied it up for the Bucs with a kill. The teams would exchange points and leads, an Amy Nokes kill put CSU up 22-21. GWU would strike again tying the set at 23-23 before another kill by Amy Nokes gave CSU set point 24-23. GWU would not be put away easy coming back to take the 25-24 lead before yet another Amy Nokes kill would tie the match at 25 a piece. GWU errors would haunt them down the stretch and CSU would take the extended set 28-26.

Two Erin Lavenice kills along with a GWU error would give the Lady Bucs the early 3-1 lead in set four. An Ashley Johnston kill paired with more GWU errors gave the Lady Bucs a 5-4 advantage. Three GWU errors would help extend the CSU lead 8-4. Ashley Higginbothem would send in a service ace to give CSU the 11-6 lead. Kills by Ashley Johnston and Amy Nokes would keep the CSU lead 13-10. GWU would go on a run to take the lead 16-13 before Amy Nokes recorded a kill to bring the set 16-14 GWU. GWU errors and a Wynter Davis kill would bring the Bucs within one 19-18. CSU had late kills by Amy Nokes and Kirsten Struksnes, but it provided too little too late as GWU took the set 25-21.

The final set saw both teams exchange early points, until Wynter Davis would give CSU the slim 5-3 lead. Kills from Amy Nokes, Wynter Davis, and Sydney Tracy would extend the lead to 8-4. Back to back kills by Ashley Johnston and Sydney Tracy would give CSU the 11-5 edge. A kill by Amy Nokes would give CSU match point 14-8. GWU would again fall victim to their errors which CSU would take advantage of to win the set 15-11.

CSU will close out the Quality Inn & Suites Spartan Classic facing off against Western Carolina at 5:30 p.m. Sep 17.