Southern Conference Volleyball Championships

Match One: #4 Georgia Southern Outlasts #5 Furman, 3-2
 

GREENSBORO, NC ­ Fourth seeded Georgia Southern won the first two games, but had to hold on down the stretch in defeating fifth seed Furman, 3-2 in the first match of the 2001 Southern Conference Volleyball Championships at Fleming Gymnasium on the campus of UNC Greensboro.

The Eagles (19-12) were led by the duo of senior Camila Schmitz-Rower and sophomore Martina Veiglova. The two combined for 59 kills and 26 digs. Schmitz-Rower had a match-high 31 kills, 14 digs, and six service aces while Veiglova added 28 kills and 12 digs. 

Junior Laura Bush led Furman with 23 kills and 19 digs in the losing effort. Junior teammate Abby Simon added 18 kills and seven digs.

Georgia Southern won the first game by a 30-27 count and was able to carry it over to take the second game, 30-18.

Furman rallied back, however, to force the fifth game by winning games three and four. The Lady Paladins used a 14-6 rally to dig out of a hole in game three to win, 33-31. In game four, Furman led 15-9 before GSU rattled off five straight to pull within one at 15-14. The two battled back-and-forth with Furman holding the upper hand most of the time.

In the fifth and deciding game, Georgia Southern took a 6-3 lead and fed off momentum by blocks at the net to win 15-8.

Georgia Southern advances to face the winner of the #1 College of Charleston/#8 Wofford match in the semifinals at 2:00 on Saturday, November 17. Furman finishes its season with a 16-12 record.
 

Match Summary:
 

#4 Georgia Southern defeats #5 Furman, 3-2 (30-27, 30-18, 31-33, 28-30, 15-8)

1 2 3 4 5
 

#5 Furman 27 18 33 30 8

#4 Georgia Southern 30 30 31 28 15