Davenport, Jones, Finister, Yoza Highlight Day 2 of Gamecock Invitational

Saturday, September 7

Columbia, S.C.

3 P.M.

Temple University

3-3

North Carolina

4-0

North Carolina

Temple

Davenport, Jones, Finister, Yoza Highlight Day 2 of Gamecock Invitational

9.7.24 | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

Davenport, Jones, Finister, Yoza Highlight Day 2 of Gamecock Invitational

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The Temple volleyball team (3-3) closed out the Gamecock Invitational, falling to the North Carolina Tar Heels (4-1), 22-25, 26-28, 25-20, 21-25. In the match, Taylor Davenport led the Owls with 13 kills, while Sydney Jones earned her first career double-double with 11 kills and 11 digs, while Alyssa Finister put together a career-high 10 blocks and Lexi Yoza set a career-high 37 assists.

HOW IT HAPPENED

North Carolina had four players with double-digit kills led by Mabrey Shaffmaster with 13, followed by Chelsea Thorpe (12), Safi Hampton (11), and Emani Foster (10).
Both teams were even on the day offensively as the Tar Heels hit .153 and the Owls at .154.
Finister's 10 blocks was a match-high and is tied for fifth most all-time in program history.

Set 1 (NC 25, TEM 17)

The Owls tied UNC with the score 9-9 with the help of a 4-0 run as the Temple block forced the Tar Heels into four consecutive attack errors, including a pair of blocks assists from newcomers Finister and Christiana Greene.
Leading into the media timeout ahead 15-12, North Carolina scored four consecutive points as Shaffmaster added a kill and a service ace.
UNC forced Temple into their second timeout of the set in the midst of a 5-0 a run, up 20-14 with Hampton and Alexis Engelbrecht tacking on kills.
Senior Chelci Banks and Greene continued their defensive work at the net with two more blocks, helping the Cherry and White cut the lead down to 20-19.
With another rally (5-0) in set one, UNC opened a 24-20 advantage, getting an ace from Julia Bolinger and kills from Englebrecht and Shaffmaster.
Temple's last 3-0 run forced UNC into its last time out, cutting the lead to two points, 24-22 with two kills from Banks and one from Sydney Jones.
Offensively, Davenport led the Owls in the first set with five kills, and Sydney Jones and Chelci Banks tallied three.
NC's Shaffmaster tied for set-high in kills with five.

Set 2 (NC 28, TEM 26)

The Heels jumped out a 5-2 advantage with kills from Emani Foster, but Temple turned the advantage to its favor by going on a 5-0 run with the help of blocks from Banks and Davenport.
The Tar Heels' Hampton led the set with five kills. Chelsea Thorpe aided the Tar Heels run with her only three kills of the set.
Havertown, Pa. native Jones sparked the Cherry and White, reclaiming the lead 25-24. During the rally, Jones connected with two of her three set kills.
North Carolina closed out the set, scoring four of the last five points with Hampton putting away two balls and adding a service ace.
The Tar Heels' Hampton led the set with five kills.

Set 3 (TEM 25, NC 20)

Temple led throughout set three, never allowing North Carolina to take an advantage.
TU jumped out to its biggest lead of set three of 12-6 with the help of three blocks from newcomer Alyssa Finister and a pair from Jones, but UNC was able to cut the lead to two points, 12-10, scoring four straight points from kills from Thorpe and Shaffmaster.
The Owls finished the set scoring six of the final nine points, winning 25-20.

Set 3 (TEM 25, NC 20)

North Carolina gained a 4-2 advantage, but Temple scored four consecutive points with the help of a kill from Jones and service ace from Lexi Yoza.
The Owls went into the media timeout leading, 15-13, as Shaffmaster and Davenport dualed with a pair of kills apiece.
Carolina's Thorpe sparked her team to a 7-0 run, taking a 23-19 advantage, with four kills.
Thorpe and Jackie Taylor finished finalized the victory with back-to-back kills.

Temple Leaders
Kills: Taylor Davenport – 13
Digs: Avery Luoma – 12
Blocks: Alyssa Finister – 10
Assists: Lexi Yoza – 37

Up Next
The Owls will be in action on Sunday at the Presbyterian Highlanders at 2 p.m. The match will be available on ESPN+

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