Wingate, N.C.----The Wingate University volleyball team enters the 2010 season following what proved to be the most successful season in the history of the program in 2009. Wingate head coach Shelton Collier led the team to an impressive 36-2 record, and for the second straight season the Bulldogs posted a perfect 16-0 mark in the South Atlantic Conference. Wingate’s three-year record of 100-6 is good for the second highest winning percentage in the nation, trailing only three-time defending national champion Concordia St. Paul. This marks the fourth consecutive year that Collier has led the team to the best season in program history.

For the fourth straight year, the Bulldogs won the SAC regular season and tournament title in 2009. Wingate has been the top-ranked team in the Southeast Region in every poll for the last two years. In 2009, Wingate was one win away from earning its way to the Elite Eight, losing in the Regional finals. Wingate has won 46 consecutive SAC matches to go along with 12 straight SAC tournament victories. The Bulldogs have also won 56 of their last 57 regular season matches.

“Our goal is to successfully defend our conference title, then win the NCAA Regional and advance to the Elite Eight,” Collier says. “We have the talent and leadership for these to be realistic expectations.” Collier points to a successful spring season as reason for optimism. The Bulldogs posted an impressive 24-10 record against Division I opponents.

Wingate will return three players who earned All-American honors in 2009. Senior middle blocker Stormi Gale (Richmond, Texas) became the first player in SAC history to earn first team All-American honors from Daktronics, while earning third team honors from the AVCA. Junior libero Maggie Malone (Chicago, Ill.) and senior outside hitter Lauren Billo (Orland Park, Ill.) were honorable mention All-Americans in 2009.

The Bulldogs have several other returners who have received prominent awards in previous seasons. Senior middle blocker Rebecca Bloemer (Louisville, Ky.), earned first team All-SAC honors as a freshman, and is a preseason All-SAC pick in 2010. Junior setter Liz Willis (Raleigh, N.C.) is a two-time All-SAC and All-Region performer, and was the 2008 conference and regional Freshman of the Year. Sophomore middle blocker Grace Krauser (Louisville, Ky.) was named to the All-Tournament Team in the NCAA Southeast Regionals. Senior setter Amanda Clark (Timberlake, N.C.) and junior outside hitter Janice Ehorn (Orange, Conn.) round out the upperclassmen who have brought so much success to Wingate volleyball over the past several seasons.

Sophomore hitters Katie Handy (Palos Verde, Calif.) and Anna Hilton (Hickory, N.C.) both had strong spring seasons and will be key factors this fall. “We have a talented, experienced group of returning players,” Collier says. “I know they have set some high goals for this year.”

Six newcomers will join the Bulldog squad this fall. Alison Cooke (Davidson, N.C.) will compete at the setter position after being an all-state hitter at North Mecklenburg High School. Five talented hitters join the team and will play a variety of roles this season. Cory McGowan (Pittsburgh, Pa.), Michelle Fadool (Raleigh, N.C.) and Rianne Lang (Littleton, Colo.) will join two local prospects in Allison Rickher (Matthews, N.C.) and Kayla Osterhus (Matthews, N.C.) to complete a strong six-player incoming class.

“Our team is aware that we are supposed to be very good again this year,” Collier says. “They have worked hard to prepare for another strong run at the Elite Eight. It will definitely be an exciting season.”

The Bulldogs start their season Friday, Sept. 4, traveling to Lees-McRae College to take on the Bobcats. Wingate will face Coker College Saturday, Sept. 5, followed by a match against defending Southeast Region champion Flagler College. The Bulldogs open conference play Tuesday, Sept. 7, traveling to Catawba College. Wingate’s first home match is Friday, Sept. 10, hosting Lincoln Memorial University at 7 p.m.

WINGATE UNIVERSITY

Founded in 1896, Wingate University is a private four-year co-educational institution of more than 2,300 students offering active learning opportunities through personalized instruction, world travel, career discovery and community service.

Wingate offers 32 undergraduate majors in arts and sciences, business, communication, education, fine arts, music and sport sciences. It also offers graduate degrees in business, education, physician assistant studies and sport administration. In addition, the school awards the doctor of pharmacy and the doctor of education degrees.

Bulldog student-athletes compete in 19 NCAA Division II sports. Wingate University has won the South Atlantic Conference Echols Athletic Excellence Award for the past four years.

Wingate University is ranked number three among NCAA Division II Academic All-America® producing schools in the 2000’s with 36 honorees during this millennium. Only Pittsburg State (Kan.) University and Truman State (Mo.) University have produced more Academic All-America® honorees during this time period. Wingate’s 45 Academic All-America® honorees (lifetime) is tops among all SAC schools.

(Wingate University assistant sports information director Hugh Patton contributed information to this article. Patton is a 2006 Wingate graduate with a B.A. degree in Communication Studies.)