SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Campbell (16-9, 11-2) saw its seven-match win streak snapped Friday night in a four-set defeat at USC Upstate (13-13, 9-4). The loss also knocks Campbell off the top spot in the Big South.
 
The Camels posted more total kills than Upstate on the match, but were inefficient doing so, committing 31 attack errors and hitting only .135, the lowest mark since Sept. 25. While some errors were unforced, the Spartan defense was big at the net posting 16 blocks, tied for the most against Campbell this season.
 
Campbell dropped the first set for the first time in eight matches as the Spartans took the opening frame 26-24. Campbell fell behind early forcing an early timeout from Coach Goral. The Camels were able to battle back and take a two-point lead at 22-20, but were unable to finish the deal, allowing three kills and committing a pair of errors to help give Upstate the set. Hailey Wilson and Lailah Green led the Camels with three kills each.
 
The Camels drew even with a 25-20 second set win. Campbell started hot opening up a 6-1 lead and never trailed in the frame. The Spartans never went away during the set. Campbell pushed the lead to as many as seven before a late 4-0 run from Upstate cut it back to 23-20. Campbell was at its most effective in the second, hitting .275 while holding Upstate to .130.
 
The Spartans bounced back to win the third set and take a 2-1 advantage. Campbell hit just .051 in the set with 10 kills while committing eight errors. Campbell trailed throughout the set and saw the deficit grow steadily to what became a 25-17 set win for Upstate.
 
Campbell had chances to force a fifth set, but was unable to close out the set. After trailing 15-12, the Camels pieced together a 9-1 run to take a 21-16 advantage. USC Upstate bounced right back and ended the match on a 7-1 run to take it 26-24. The Camels were inefficient again in the fourth, committing 14 attack errors while hitting .036. in the fourth.
 
Lailah Green led the Campbell offense with 15 kills on the night while Hailey Wilson added 10 as the only other Camel in double figures. Claranne Fechter posted a match-high 28 digs while Hailey Wilson collected six blocks.
 
Emily Campe saw her first extended action since Oct. 8 and provided a big lift off the bench in the third and fourth sets, recording four kills, two blocks and a dig.
 
Upstate was led by Kelly Wiedemann's 17 kills on offense, while five Spartans posted 10+ digs.
 
The Camels will try and get back in the win column tomorrow at UNC Asheville, with first serve set for 2 p.m. That match will be streamed on ESPN+.