BOX SCORE

Wingate, N.C.----The Wingate University Bulldogs swept the Tornados of Brevard College in South Atlantic Conference volleyball action Tuesday night in Cuddy Arena. Wingate won by scores of 25-18, 25-20 and 25-15 to improve to 22-1 overall and 15-0 in the SAC. Brevard falls to 3-21 overall and 0-15 in the conference. The Bulldogs have had a winning streak of at least 20 matches in each of the past four seasons. Wingate has now won 61 straight league matches, while its .957 winning percentage leads the nation this year.

Freshman outside hitter Cory McGowan (Pittsburgh, Pa.) had 10 kills and eight digs to lead the Wingate attack. Senior middle blocker Stormi Gale (Richmond, Texas) and senior outside hitter Lauren Billo (Orland Park, Ill.) each added seven kills in two sets of action. Junior setter Liz Willis (Raleigh, N.C.) had 25 assists and nine digs, while junior libero Maggie Malone (Chicago, Ill.) had 10 digs in two sets.

Junior middle hitter Ashlie Morrison (Denver, Colo.) had nine kills to lead the Brevard attack. Sophomore setter Bethany Stevenson (Prattville, Ala.) had 16 assists, while senior libero Rebecca Schoonover (Palm City, Fla.) had nine digs for the Tornados.

The ‘Dogs used a 3-0 run to take a 15-11 lead in the first set. Junior outside hitter Janice Ehorn (Orange, Conn.) got it started with a kill. Junior middle hitter Jordei Osby (Goldsboro, N.C.) notched a kill to cut the lead to three at 16-13. A 4-0 run put Wingate on top 20-13. McGowan started the spurt with a kill, while Willis capped it with an ace. A block from Gale and Ehorn made it 24-18, while Gale concluded the first frame with a kill.

Gale had a block and a kill in a 3-0 Wingate run, giving the ‘Dogs a 15-12 lead in the second set. A block from Osby trimmed the lead to one at 15-14. A kill from freshman outside hitter Kortney Conner (Franklin, N.C.) tied the set at 16. Wingate answered by scoring the next four points. Gale got it started with a kill, while McGowan added back-to-back kills. Another 4-0 run for Wingate made it 24-17, capped by a Gale kill and Willis ace. McGowan concluded the set with a kill.

A pair of Billo kills, along with an ace from senior middle blocker Rebecca Bloemer (Louisville, Ky.) made it 11-5 in the third set. An ace from freshman middle hitter Erin Rollins (Murphy, N.C.) got the Tornados within five at 13-8. The Bulldogs responded with a 6-0 run to take a 19-8 advantage. McGowan started the flurry with a pair of kills and a block, while the final three points came via Brevard errors. A Billo kill put Wingate on top 24-15. The ‘Dogs would claim the match on a Brevard error.

The Bulldogs hit .192 on the night, with 38 kills and 19 errors in 99 attacks. The Tornados had 27 kills and 26 errors in 101 attacks for a hitting percentage of .010. Gale had a team-high three blocks for Wingate, while sophomore outside hitter Jamie Atkinson (Spartanburg, S.C.) led Brevard with five blocks. Willis had a match-high three aces for the Bulldogs.

Wingate returns to action Friday, hosting Lenoir-Rhyne University at 7 p.m. The Tornados travel to Catawba Friday for a 6:30 p.m. start.