Anna Hilton registered 3.0 kills and 4.22 digs per set during the NCAA Southeast regionals, leading the Bulldogs to their second regional title in the years. Hilton led Wingate to three sweeps as the Bulldogs won their 11th NCAA Tournament match. The Bulldogs are still the only volleyball team in SAC history to advance to the Elite Eight, making their second trip this week.
Hilton started her week with nine kills and 11 digs in the sweep over Lenoir-Rhyne, adding two aces and a block. The SAC Player of the Year had 10 kills and 10 digs in the sweep over Newberry, hitting .318 for the match while adding five assists and a block. She capped her week with eight kills and 19 digs in the regional title match, hitting .421 while adding three assists and a block.
A first team All-Region selection for the second straight year, Hilton was named a third team All-American by the AVCA on Monday. She ranks second in the SAC with a .317 hitting percentage, while ranking second on the team with 3.03 kills and 3.37 digs per set. She has also registered 62 blocks, 103 assists and 10 aces on the season. Hilton has 20 matches this season with double-digit kills, while registering 13 double-doubles on the year. In her career, Hilton has piled up 862 kills and 755 digs. She is hitting .331 in her career.
The Bulldogs return to action Thursday, taking on top-ranked and five-time defending national champion Concordia-St. Paul. Wingate will take on the Golden Bears at 1 p.m. at the University of West Florida in Pensacola, Fla.
