Box Score  

Brevard, N.C.----Wingate University freshman middle blocker Abby Saehler (Iowa City, Iowa) registered a career-high 15 kills Saturday afternoon, leading the ninth-ranked Bulldogs to a 3-0 victory at Brevard College in South Atlantic Conference volleyball action. Wingate won by scores of 25-12, 25-12 and 25-17 to improve to 23-2 overall and 19-0 in the SAC. The victory gives the Bulldogs 20 consecutive wins this season and 34 straight SAC victories dating back to last season. Wingate also sets a SAC record with 19 conference wins in a season. Brevard falls to 7-17 overall and 3-16 in the SAC.

Saehler hit .400 on the afternoon, needing only 25 swings to notch her career high, adding five digs and two blocks. Redshirt senior right-side hitter Anna Hilton (Hickory, N.C.) added eight kills, four blocks and three digs, hitting .500 in two sets of action. Sophomore outside hitter Shelly Stumpff (Iowa City, Iowa) had seven kills and six digs in two sets of action, hitting .438. Sophomore setter Iris Brewer (Cincinnati, Ohio) had 24 assists, seven digs and three kills, while redshirt junior Alison Cooke (Davidson, N.C.) had 14 assists and four digs in one set. Junior libero Stephanie Tassone (Chicago, Ill.) collected 10 digs.

"Our team is very proud that we were able to complete our conference road schedule with 11 wins and zero losses," head coach Shelton Collier says. "We have some challenging travel, difficult two-match road trips and get every team's best shot on their home court, so it is very rewarding to go through such a competitive league undefeated on the road. We are looking forward to returning home for our final three regular season matches."

Savannah Cox, Joy Oswalt and Fatima Gharachorloo led the Brevard attack with four kills each, while Erin Rollins added three kills. Bailey Hayes handed out 14 assists, while Aleksandra Vrvilo registered a match-high 20 digs.

The Bulldogs used a 12-0 run to jump out to a 15-2 lead in the opening set. Tassone was on serve for 12 straight points, notching a pair of aces. Stumpff and Hilton had three kills each in the flurry. Three Saehler kills gave the 'Dogs a 23-8 lead, while a Hilton kill made it 24-8. Wingate took the first set on a Brevard error. The Bulldogs hit .500 in the first frame, with 18 kills and just one error.

A Stumpff kill gave the 'Dogs a 9-3 lead in set two. Brevard cut the lead to three on a Gharachorloo kill, but a Potter kill and BC error made it 12-7. A 4-0 run, highlighted by two Saehler kills gave the 'Dogs an 18-9 advantage. Wingate closed the set on a 6-0 run, getting a pair of Tassone aces along with a kill and a block from Hilton. Freshman middle blocker Tyler Smith (Aiken, S.C.) teamed with Hilton for a block to cap the set. Wingate hit .419 in set two, with 14 kills and one error.

A pair of Saehler kills, along with a Potter kill gave the 'Dogs a 13-7 lead in the third frame. Two Saehler kills, along with a kill from freshman middle blocker Rachael Cecka (Plymouth, Wisc.) made it 19-10. Kills from Smith and Jenna Flanigin (Aldie, Va.) put Wingate on top 23-15, while a kill from senior outside hitter Rianne Lang (Littleton, Colo.) made it 24-17. Brewer capped the match with an ace.

The Bulldogs hit .345 on the afternoon, with 48 kills and 10 errors in 110 attacks. Brevard had 21 kills and 14 errors in 106 attacks, hitting .066. Tassone had a match-high four aces, while Hilton's four blocks were a match high.

The Bulldogs return to action Tuesday, opening up a three-match home stand to wrap up the regular season. Wingate hosts Coker Tuesday at 7 p.m., then takes on Tusculum Friday at 7 p.m. The Bulldogs finish the regular season at home Saturday, hosting Mars Hill at 5 p.m.