Box Score  

Wingate, N.C.----The 16th-ranked Wingate University Bulldogs opened the conference slate with a 3-0 sweep over Newberry College in South Atlantic Conference volleyball action Friday night in Cuddy Arena. The Bulldogs won by scores of 25-19, 25-20 and 25-14 to improve to 4-2 overall and 1-0 in the SAC. The Wolves suffer their first loss of the season, falling to 4-1 overall and 0-1 in the conference.

Sophomore outside hitter Shelly Stumpff (Iowa City, Iowa) had 10 kills and eight digs to lead the Wingate attack. Redshirt junior right-side hitter Anna Hilton (Hickory, N.C.) added nine kills, six digs and three blocks, hitting .333 on the night. Junior middle blocker Lexi Potter (North Liberty, Iowa) contributed six kills and five blocks, hitting .556 while junior outside hitter Susie Murach (Burke, Va.) had five kills and seven digs. Redshirt junior setter Alison Cooke (Davidson, N.C.) had 27 assists, eight digs and three blocks, while junior libero Stephanie Tassone (Chicago, Ill.) had nine digs.

"This was a great way to open our home season," head coach Shelton Collier says. "We had one of the best crowds we have ever had here, great energy in the gym, and we played well. I believe Newbery will be a strong NCAA Tournament team, so this was a very good win for us."

Samantha Parrish had eight kills and 10 digs to lead the Newberry attack. Alexus Horton and Jessica King added six kills each, while Logan Hayward registered five kills and eight digs. Rachel Moran handed out 16 assists for the Wolves.

A kill from Murach and an ace from freshman outside hitter Shelby Nassar (Waxhaw, N.C.) put Wingate on top 10-6 in the opening set. Kills from Hayward and Horton helped the Wolves get to within one at 12-11, but a pair of Stumpff kills pushed the advantage back to four. A block from Potter and Stumpff put the 'Dogs on top 17-11. A Stumpff kill gave Wingate an eight-point advantage. A Parrish kill would trim the deficit to six at 23-17, but a kill from freshman middle blocker Abby Saehler (Iowa City, Iowa) made it 24-17. Saehler and Hilton teamed for a block to finish the opening set.

A Hilton kill, followed by a block from Potter and Cooke gave Wingate a 10-4 edge in set two. A kill from Cooke, followed by back-to-back blocks from senior middle blocker Allison Rickher (Matthews, N.C.) pushed the advantage to nine at 15-6. A Newberry error gave the 'Dogs a 10-point advantage. The Wolves fought back, using a Parrish kill and two Wingate errors to cut the lead to four at 21-17. Kills from Stumpff and Potter made it 23-19, while a Newberry error made it 24-20. Rickher capped the frame with a kill.

A Hilton kill and Murach ace gave Wingate a 12-8 lead in set three. The Bulldogs used a 5-0 run to take an 18-9 lead. Hilton had a kill and a block in the flurry. Kills from potter and Murach gave Wingate a 24-14 advantage. Nassar finished the match with an ace. The Bulldogs hit .367 in the final set with 13 kills and just two errors.

Wingate hit .250 for the match, with 35 kills and 13 errors in 88 attacks. Newberry had 31 kills and 24 errors in 105 attacks, hitting .067. Nassar and Murach had two aces each, while Potter's five blocks were a match high.

The Bulldogs return to action Saturday, hosting Anderson at 5 p.m. Newberry travels to Coker Saturday at 1 p.m.