Wingate University Athletics

Senior middle blocker Rebecca Bloemer stepped up for the Bulldogs this weekend, helping them overcome the loss of three starters. She averaged 3.71 kills per set, while hitting .455 and adding 2.29 digs per set. Bloemer notched her first career double-double in Friday’s win at Newberry, collecting 15 kills and 12 digs to go along with six assists and a pair of blocks. Bloemer had 11 kills in 14 swings at Anderson, good for a .714 hitting percentage while adding four digs and a pair of blocks. The three-time ESPN Academic All-District selection notched her 800th career kill in Saturday’s contest.

Bloemer helped lead Wingate to a pair of SAC road matches last week. The ‘Dogs defeated Newberry 3-1 Friday, then swept Anderson 3-0 Saturday afternoon. Saturday’s victory gave the Bulldogs their fourth consecutive undefeated SAC regular season. Wingate is 25-1 overall and 18-0 in the SAC, riding a 23-match winning streak. The Bulldogs have won 64 consecutive regular season SAC matches, and will be the number one seed in this week’s Food Lion SAC Tournament.

The Bulldogs will open SAC Tournament play Friday at 12 p.m. Every match this weekend will take place at Catawba College in Salisbury, N.C. The winner of the Wingate-Newberry match will take on the winner of the Catawba-Carson-Newman match. The Bulldogs have won four consecutive SAC Tournament titles, and five of the last seven. Wingate is 18-2 in the SAC Tournament since 2003.