ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Peyton Thompson had a match-high 24 kills and a career-high six aces Friday evening, leading Charleston Southern to a four-set win over UNC Asheville (21-25, 25-19, 26-24, 25-17) at the Justice Center.
 
Indigo Young had a season-high 12 kills for the Bucs, who picked up their third conference win of the season. Ella Lochbiler added eight kills, while Kaileigh Ammons had seven. Emma Minnick had 47 assists, while both Ashleigh Holweger and Angelika Rusin had double-digit digs with 21 and 10, respectively.
 
The Bucs got off to a strong start in the first set and led by four midway through the set before an 8-2 Asheville run put the Bulldogs in control. The Bucs never got closer than a two-point deficit in the late stages of the set, as Asheville took the opener by a 25-21 score.
 
Charleston Southern's attack hit over .500 in the second set and was firing on all cylinders after an early timeout. Thompson and Young combined for nine kills in the set, while CSU as a team had four aces to overcome an early 8-2 deficit and tie the match at one set apiece.
 
Both teams traded scoring runs during a back-and-forth third set, one which saw 11 ties and four lead changes. CSU closed the set with seven of the last 10 points, a run which saw Thompson record three kills and an ace, to take a 2-1 lead in the match.
 
CSU started the fourth set with a 7-3 run, which saw contributions from Thompson, Young and Lochbiler on the attack. UNC Asheville closed the deficit to one midway through the set, but a 10-3 run to end the match iced it for the Bucs. Each of CSU's starters played a significant role in the run, with Thompson, Young, Minnick, Ammons and Lochbiler all recording kills during that span. Kills by Thompson and Young ended the match and gave the Bucs their first road win in Big South play this season.
 
News and Notes

• Charleston Southern's .526 hitting percentage in the second set was its best single-set output of the season.
• Peyton Thompson's 24 kills put her over the 250-kill mark for the season. Thompson currently stands at 260 kills and counting.
• Thompson's six aces are tied for the third-most by a Buccaneer in a match. Her 24 kills are sixth-most by a Buccaneer in a four-set match.
• Indigo Young eclipsed the 100-kill mark in Friday's match.
• Emma Minnick tied her career high of three blocks in Friday's match.
• Minnick also recorded her fifth match of the season with more than 40 assists.

 
Up Next
The Bucs close the weekend at USC Upstate Saturday afternoon, with first serve set for 2 p.m.