BOX SCORE

Banner Elk, N.C.----Flagler College senior middle blocker Meg Weathersby (Maitland, Fla.) had 17 kills and nine digs to lead the 22nd-ranked Saints of Flagler College past Wingate University on day two of the 2010 Carolinas Challenge hosted by Lees McRae College. Flagler won by scores of 25-15, 25-23 and 25-20 to improve to 3-0 on the year, while Wingate falls to 2-1. The match was a rematch of the 2010 NCAA Southeast Regional championship match, which Flagler won 3-1.

Sophomore middle blocker Crystal Niederriter (Merritt Island, Fla.) added eight kills for the Saints, while sophomore middle blocker Rachel Stacy (Orlando, Fla.) added six kills. Senior setter Rebecca Royal (Green Cove Springs, Fla.) had 24 assists and four kills, while sophomore libero Casey Cnann (Boca Raton, Fla.) piled up a match-high 25 digs.

Senior middle blocker Stormi Gale (Richmond, Texas) led the Bulldogs with 12 kills to go along with nine digs. Sophomore middle blocker Grace Krauser (Louisville, Ky.) and freshman outside hitter Cory McGowan (Pittsburgh, Pa.) added six kills each for Wingate. Senior setter Amanda Clark (Timberlake, N.C.) handed out 15 assists, while junior libero Maggie Malone (Chicago, Ill.) had a team-high 10 digs.

“At this point, Flagler is without question the best team in the region,” head coach Shelton Collier says. “We certainly are not pleased with the way we played today, however, we plan to improve on several key aspects and be in a much better position the next time we play them. We have three huge conference matches next week, and we will need to be ready.”

The Saints jumped out to a 12-1 lead in the first set, capped by back-to-back kills from Weathersby. Wingate cut the lead to seven on a kill from redshirt freshman outside hitter Anna Hilton (Hickory, N.C.). A Stacy kill put the Saints back on top by 10 at 18-8. The Bulldogs got within seven at 21-14 on a kill from Gale, but could get no closer, with Flagler ending the set on a kill from Royal.

Wingate used a 3-0 run to take a 17-13 lead in the second set, capped by a block from McGowan. A Gale kill put the Bulldogs ahead 20-16, while another kill from Gale made it 23-20. Flagler responded by scoring the final five points of the set. Stacy got it started with a kill, while Flagler capped it with four consecutive Wingate errors.

Kills from Weathersby and Stacy put Flagler on top 14-8 in the final set. A 3-0 run, capped by back-to-back aces from Stacy made it 17-10. The Bulldogs fought back, cutting it to two at 18-16 on a kill from McGowan. Wingate would get no closer, with Weathersby finishing the match with a kill.

Flagler hit .226 on the day, with 43 kills and 17 errors in 115 attacks. The Bulldogs hit .081, with 33 kills against 23 errors in 124 attacks. Flagler had six aces, led by Stacy with two. Wingate returns to action Tuesday, traveling to Catawba College for the South Atlantic Conference opener. Flagler will take on Lees-McRae Saturday at 5:30 p.m. The Bulldogs and Saints will meet again this season, when Flagler visits Cuddy Arena September 15 at 7 p.m.