Box Score

Wingate, N.C.----The Wingate University Bulldogs swept the Catawba Indians 3-0 Tuesday evening in South Atlantic Conference volleyball action in Cuddy Arena. Wingate won by scores of 25-13, 25-20 and 28-26 to improve to 21-1 overall and 9-0 in the SAC. Catawba falls to 11-8 overall and 4-5 in the conference. The Bulldogs have now won 39 consecutive SAC matches.

Junior middle blocker Stormi Gale (Richmond, Texas) led the Wingate attack with 15 kills, 10 digs and three blocks while hitting .364. Junior outside hitter Lauren Billo (Orland Park, Ill.) added 14 kills while hitting .387. Sophomore setter Liz Willis (Raleigh, N.C.) piled up 46 assists and 11 digs while sophomore libero Maggie Malone (Chicago, Ill.) collected a match-high 19 digs. Senior defensive specialists Brittany Horner (Roxboro, N.C.) and Chelsea Cancelliere  (Richboro, Pa.) chipped in with 11 digs each.

Sophomore outside hitter Shay Meeks (Kings Mountain, N.C.) led the Catawba attack with 11 kills while freshman outside hitter Kaitlyn Whitmer (Ferrum, Va.) chipped in with eight. Sophomore setter Megan Courson (Statesville, N.C.) had 18 assists and 13 digs while senior libero Mai Zoua Lo (Hickory, N.C.) collected 16 digs.

The Bulldogs jumped out to a 14-7 lead in the first set on a block from senior outside hitter Jacki Emmenecker (Perrysburg, Ohio) and junior middle blocker Rebecca Bloemer (Louisville, Ky.). Whitmer answered with a kill to cut the lead to six. The Bulldogs responded by scoring the next five points of the set to take a 19-8 advantage. Kills from Emmenecker and senior middle blocker Megan McVicker (Mercer, Pa.) made it 22-10. A pair of kills from Billo finished the first set, as the Bulldogs hit .311 in the frame while holding Catawba to .048.

A pair of Emmenecker kills put Wingate on top 17-10 in the second set. A Meeks kill, followed by Wingate error cut the lead to 18-15. Kills from Gale and Billo built the advantage back to five. A block from Meeks and sophomore middle blocker Taylor Doss (Boonville, N.C.) cut the lead to 22-19. A Bloemer kill, followed by Catawba error made it 24-19. McVicker capped the set with a kill.

The third and final set featured 13 ties and four lead changes. A Billo kill put Wingate on top 12-9. The Catawba Indians fought back to take the lead at 14-13 on a kill from Meeks. No team would lead by more than one until a Bloemer kill and Catawba error made it 23-21. The guests had the answer, tying it at 23 on consecutive Wingate errors. An Emmenecker kill made it 24-23, but Catawba again had the response, getting kills from Meeks and Courson to take a 25-24 lead. An Emmenecker kill, followed by Catawba error put the Bulldogs on top 26-25. A Whitmer kill tied it one last time at 26. Gale slammed home a kill to make it 27-26, then finished the match with a block.

The Bulldogs hit .200 for the match, collecting 51 kills against 22 errors in 145 attacks. Catawba had 26 kills against 18 errors in 129 attacks for an .062 hitting percentage.

The Bulldogs return to action Friday, hosting Tusculum College at 7 p.m. Wingate is also at home Saturday, taking on Mars Hill College at 5 p.m. The Bulldogs will take on Pfeiffer University Sunday at 7 p.m. That match will take place at Carolina Courts in Indian Trail. Catawba returns to action Friday, hosting Mars Hill at 7 p.m.