Wingate, N.C.----Six different Bulldogs had at least five kills as Wingate University swept the Railsplitters of Lincoln Memorial University Friday night in South Atlantic Conference volleyball action in Cuddy Arena. The Bulldogs improve to 4-1 overall and 2-0 in the SAC, while LMU falls to 4-2 overall and 0-2 in the conference. Wingate has now won 48 consecutive SAC matches, and is 104-7 overall since the start of the 2007 season.

Senior middle blocker Stormi Gale (Richmond, Texas/Fort Bend Austin) led the way with nine kills to go along with nine digs and four blocks. Redshirt freshman outside hitter Anna Hilton (Hickory, N.C./Hickory) added eight kills and a .316 hitting percentage. Senior outside hitter Lauren Billo (Orland Park, Ill./Carl Sandburg) had seven kills for the Bulldogs, while freshman outside hitter Cory McGowan (Pittsburgh, Pa./Penn Hills) added six kills and four blocks. Senior middle blocker Rebecca Bloemer (Louisville, Ky./Assumption) and sophomore middle blocker Grace Krauser (Louisville, Ky. /Presentation Academy) chipped in with five kills each for the ‘Dogs. Senior setter Amanda Clark (Timberlake, N.C./Person) handed out 22 assists, while junior libero Maggie Malone (Chicago, Ill./Marist) led the Bulldogs with 14 digs.

Freshman outside hitter Kaitlin Walton (Muncie, Ind.) led the LMU attack with a match high 10 kills. Junior outside hitter Candace Richardson (Houston, Texas) added nine kills and 12 digs for the Railsplitters. Senior outside hitter Lauren Kiwacka (Tipp City, Ohio) had five kills, 13 digs and 19 assists, while sophomore libero Kristen Cantrell (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) led the way with 16 digs.

The Bulldogs used a 3-0 run to take a 17-12 lead in the first set, capped by a Billo kill. A kill from senior outside hitter Ashley Knight (Palm Harbor, Fla.) cut the lead to 21-18. Wingate responded with kills from Gale and McGowan to go on top 23-19. The Bulldogs put away the first set on a kill from Hilton.

Wingate jumped out to a 5-1 lead in the second set, capped by an ace from junior outside hitter Janice Ehorn (Orange, Conn./Amity) and a kill from Gale. LMU fought back to tie it at 12 on a kill from Walton. No team would lead by more than one until Wingate used a 4-0 run to take a 21-17 lead. Bloemer and Ehorn started the spurt with kills, while Krauser capped it with consecutive kills. The Railsplitters cut it to one on a Wingate error, but the Bulldogs were able to finish the set on consecutive LMU errors.

A kill from sophomore outside hitter Katie Handy (Palos Verdes, Calif./Palos Verdes), followed by an ace from junior setter Liz Willis (Raleigh, N.C./Enloe) gave Wingate a 16-12 lead in the third set. A Walton kill trimmed the lead to three at 17-14, but Wingate answered with a kill from McGowan, followed by a block from McGowan and Gale. A Gale kill made it 22-17, while Hilton would add a kill to make it 23-18. The ‘Dogs finished the match on back-to-back LMU errors.

Wingate hit .275 for the match, with 46 kills against 10 errors in 131 attacks. The Bulldogs hit .368 in the first set and .333 in the second frame. LMU hit .173 on the night, with 42 kills against 20 errors in 127 attacks. The Bulldogs had eight blocks on the night, to go along with six aces. McGowan and Gale had four blocks each, while Willis led the way with two aces.

The Bulldogs return to action Saturday, hosting Carson-Newman College at 2 p.m. Lincoln Memorial travels to Catawba for a 2 p.m. start.