... - Sports - College - Winthrop University

Saturday, Sep. 06, 2008

Eagles fall in Hilton Garden Inn Classic

The Winthrop volleyball team dropped a heartbreaking fifth game Friday as it fell to the West Virginia Mountaineers in its first ever meeting in the second match of the 2008 Hilton Garden Inn Classic.

The Eagles (3-2) dropped the match to West Virginia (1-3), 21-25, 22-25, 25-19, 25-17 and 17-15.

Winthrop had four players with double-digit kills with middle hitter Shannon Sitzmann leading the Eagles with 18, junior right side hitter Kelley Taylor and sophomore middle hitter Sara Felts both adding 11 and sophomore outside hitter Kaley Viola notching a double-double with 10 kills and 12 digs. Sophomore setter Kelsey Hall added 50 assists.

The first set was tight throughout and with the score tied at 16, the Eagles rode four of Sitzmann's 18 kills to a 25-21 victory. In the second set, the Eagles battled from behind to take a 22-17 edge and held off a late Mountaineer charge to take the set 25-22. The Eagles struggled early in the third set, having to overcome attacking errors in two of the first three points. West Virginia led throughout and took set three 25-19.

"I was very impressed with how we came out in sets one and two," Winthrop coach Sally Polhamus said. "The toughest part of the match is set three where a team can make changes. They exposed out youth in us not being able to overcome their changes."

The Eagles will face N.C. Central at 10 a.m. today, followed by Morehead State at 7 p.m.

• MEN'S SOCCER -- In Greensboro, N.C., forward Daniel Revivo broke a 2-2 tie in the 79th minute, giving Winthrop a 3-2 road victory over UNC Greensboro at the Kickoff Classic.

The Eagles (2-1) led 1-0 in the second half when Michael Luk was red-carded during an altercation on the Spartans' free kick in the 57th minute. However, less than three minutes later, the Eagles made it 2-0 on a goal by Matthew Skonicki. Revivo set up the goal as his cross was slightly deflected across the mouth of the goal and right to Skonicki's feet. He then carefully placed the ball past UNC Greensboro keeper Nate Berry for his first of the season.

Less than a minute later, UNC Greensboro (0-2) got on the scoreboard on a goal by Ryan Davis. Both teams went back and forth for the next 18 minutes until the Spartans tied the game at 2 on a goal by Travis Young.

"I'm so pleased with the way we played tonight," said Winthrop coach Rich Posipanko. "I thought everyone on the field played well tonight. It was certainly a step up from last weekend. Our intensity level, effort and will to win, especially down a man was outstanding."

The Eagles will wrap-up play at the Kickoff Classic at noon on Sunday against Elon.

• WOMEN'S SOCCER -- In Annapolis, Md., the Winthrop women's soccer team defeated the Navy Midshipmen 1-0 on day one of the 2008 Navy Soccer Invitational at the Glenn Warner Soccer Facility.

The Eagles improved their record to 2-1, while the Midshipmen dropped to 2-2.

Winthrop scored the lone goal of the match in the 86th minute of play as freshman Chelsea Tidwell scored the first goal of her career as an Eagle when she took a shot from 20 yards out and curled it past goalie Lizzie Barnes to give the Eagles the lead and the victory.

Senior goalkeeper Dimi Poulos snagged two saves, one in the first half and one in the second half, to capture her first shutout of the season.

"We came out and play hard and strong tonight. It was such a competitive game on both sides tonight," said Winthrop coach Melissa Heinz. "Our players worked hard and achieved a big win against Navy. This win was big for our team and this program."

The Eagles will be back in action on Sunday as they take on Delaware at noon on the final day of action of the Navy Soccer Invitational.