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Wingate, N.C.----The 16th-ranked Wingate University Bulldogs notched their 70th consecutive South Atlantic Conference victory Thursday night, sweeping the Tornados of Brevard College in Cuddy Arena. The Bulldogs won by scores of 25-7, 25-23 and 25-21 to improve to 10-0 overall and 5-0 in the SAC. Wingate has now won 33 consecutive regular season matches. The Tornados fall to 3-7 overall and 0-4 in the SAC.
 
Sophomore outside hitter Cory McGowan (Pittsburgh, Pa.) had 14 kills, four digs and three blocks in two sets to lead the Wingate attack. Freshman outside hitter Susie Murach (Burke, Va.) added eight kills and six digs in two sets, while freshman middle blocker Kelsey Handel (Knoxville, Tenn.) had seven kills in 10 swings for the Bulldogs. Senior setter Liz Willis (Raleigh, N.C.) handed out 23 assists, while senior libero Maggie Malone (Chicago, Ill.) collected 11 digs.
 
Sophomore outside hitter Joy Oswalt (Cape Carteret, N.C.) had six kills to lead the Brevard attack, while sophomore outside hitter Jamie Atkinson (Spartanburg, S.C.) added five kills, five digs and four blocks. Sophomore setter Bethany Stevenson (Prattville, Ala.) had 16 assists and eight digs, while senior libero Lindsey Rogers (Hickory, N.C.) had 14 digs.
 
The Bulldogs jumped all over the Tornados in the opening set, racing out to a 12-3 lead on the strength of Malone’s serving. The 2009 honorable mention All-American had four aces in Wingate’s 8-0 spurt. The ‘Dogs scored the final seven points of the set, which included three McGowan kills, along with a kill from freshman middle blocker Lexi Potter (North Liberty, Iowa) and an ace from junior middle blocker Grace Krauser (Louisville, Ky.).
 
The second set was tightly contested. An Oswalt kill along with a pair of Wingate errors, put the Tornados on top 16-12. A pair of Murach kills helped trim the deficit to two at 19-17. Back-to-back McGowan kills put the Bulldogs on top 20-19, while a Brevard error pushed the lead to two. The Tornados tied the set at 22, getting a pair of blocks from Atkinson. Willis and McGowan answered with kills, while McGowan would cap the frame with a kill.
 
A kill from Atkinson tied the third set at 14. Wingate answered with seven consecutive points to blow the final frame open. Potter started the flurry with a kill, while Handel added two kills and a block in the spurt. Brevard cut the deficit to three on an ace from sophomore outside hitter Erin Cox (Stoneville, N.C.). An ace from Rogers made the score 23-21. An error from the Tornados pushed the Wingate advantage to three at 24-21, while Malone capped the match with her fifth ace.
 
Wingate hit .233 for the match, with 42 kills and 18 errors in 103 attacks. The Tornados had 22 kills and 20 errors in 88 attacks for a hitting percentage of .023. Malone had five of Wingate’s season high 10 aces on the night.
 
The Bulldogs return to action Saturday, traveling to Winston-Salem State University for a tri-match. Wingate takes on St. Augustine’s College at 2 p.m. and host Winston-Salem State at 4 p.m. Brevard travels to Catawba College Saturday at 2 p.m.
 
(Wingate University assistant SID Hugh Patton wrote this article. Patton is a 2006 Wingate graduate with a B.A. degree in Communication Studies.)