HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – Alabama A&M (1-10, 0-0 SWAC) delivered a pair of impressive frames but could not capitalize as they dropped a 3-0 decision to USC Upstate (2-8, 0-0 ASUN) by scores of 25-23, 25-16 and 26-24 in an NCAA Division I women's volleyball match on Tuesday, September 13.
 
Playing at home for the first time this season, the Bulldogs came out with an memorable opening frame as the clubs would battle to a 6-6 tie before USCU scored four straight for a 10-6 advantage. Trailing 13-10, A&M surrendered three straight points before using an 11-7 stretch to flip the script and pull ahead 21-20.
 
From there they would score just two more points, something that would proceed to deadlock the teams at 23-23. The Spartans would have the final say, however, as Briana Strobert delivered a kill and the defense forced an attack error to claim a hard-fought two-point victory.
 
The second set would see USC Upstate hammer their way to an 8-3 lead early but the Bulldogs would be equal to the task. They would answer with a 9-5 burst that cut the deficit all the way down to one at 13-12. At that point, however, the Spartans took control with a set-altering 9-0 run to expand their margin to 21-12. The teams would be even from there but even produced a 25-16 decision and 2-0 lead for the visitors from the Palmetto State.
 
USCU would deliver a unique performance in Game 3 as they exploded for the first seven points before A&M came right back with a 7-1 run to tie it up at 8-8. The teams would then trade 3-0 bursts to remain deadlocked, something they would do twice more. From a 13-13 tie A&M would score six of the next eight points to take a 19-15 lead.
 
The Spartans would respond with three straight to pull to within one but the Bulldogs would find themselves on the cusp as they went up 24-19 moments later. It was not to be, however, as the same tenacity that USC Upstate opened the frame with would be what they closed with. In a position where they could not surrender another point, they did not as they improbably took the final seven points to pull off the 26-24 victory and cement the 3-0 sweep.
 
Alabama A&M delivered numerous impressive individual performances, including three players in double-digit digs for the first time this season. Leading the way would be freshman outside hitter Caitlin Shaw (Desoto, Texas) as she just missed a double-double with nine kills and 14 digs while sophomore setter Keyara Brooks (Arlington, Texas) did get there with 26 assists and 12 digs.
 
They were joined by freshman middle blocker Madison Reagins (Duncanville, Texas) with seven kills and seven digs and freshman libero Tammy Melendez Mondragon (Pelham, Ala.) rounded out the top performances with 13 digs.
 
Kate Idrogo led the way for the Spartans, finishing with 10 kills and seven digs while Julia Gladhill had 14 assists and an impressive seven service aces. Gracie DiNardo dished out 12 assists and Isabella Raciunas closed things out with six kills and a pair of block assists.
 
The Bulldogs stay at home will be brief as they return to the road with a trip to Carbondale, Illinois for the Saluki Bash. Hosted by Southern Illinois, A&M will face off against the home team in their opener on Friday, September 16 before facing Division I transitional team Bellarmine in the night cap. They'll then close out the tournament on Saturday, September 17 when they take on Southeast Missouri.