Box Score  

Salisbury, N.C.----The 16th-ranked Wingate University Bulldogs remained undefeated in conference play Friday night, sweeping the Catawba College Indians in South Atlantic Conference volleyball action. Wingate won by scores of 25-17, 25-20 and 25-14 to improve to 7-2 overall and 4-0 in the SAC. Catawba falls to 1-4 overall and 1-2 in the conference. After seeing their league-record 83-match SAC winning streak snapped last year, the Bulldogs have now won 19 consecutive conference contests.

Junior outside hitter Susie Murach (Burke, Va.) had 13 kills to lead the Wingate attack, hitting .357 on the night. Redshirt senior right-side hitter Anna Hilton (Hickory, N.C.) added 11 kills, nine digs and two blocks, hitting .318. Sophomore outside hitter Shelly Stumpff (Iowa City, Iowa) contributed seven kills, while junior middle blocker Lexi Potter (North Liberty, Iowa) hit .455 with six kills. Sophomore setter Iris Brewer (Cincinnati, Ohio) had 39 assists, seven digs and three kills, while junior libero Stephanie Tassone (Chicago, Ill.) had a match-high 13 digs.

"This was a good road win for us," head coach Shelton Collier says. "Catawba has some good players, so for us to control the match like that on their home court is a real positive for us and our progress. Susie had a strong performance, which was a key factor for us."

Haley Lanier had 11 kills to lead the Catawba attack. Rachel Gallup added six kills, while Bri Howard contributed four kills for the Indians. Kaytee Frabotta handed out 20 assists, while McKenzie Garrison collected 10 digs.

Catawba used a 5-0 run in the opening set to take an 8-6 lead on a Frabotta kill. The Bulldogs countered with a 6-0 run to take a 14-10 advantage. Potter started the flurry with a kill, while Murach added a pair of kills. A Lanier kill and Wingate error trimmed the lead to two at 16-14, but a 5-0 Bulldog run extended the advantage to seven. Hilton started the spurt with three straight kills, while adding a block. A kill from freshman middle blocker Abby Saehler (Iowa City, Iowa) finished the flurry to make it 21-14. A Potter kill and Catawba error made it 24-16, while a Stumpff kill capped the opening set.

A pair of kills from Lanier gave the Indians a 10-8 advantage in the second set. A pair of Hilton kills, along with a Saehler block tied it at 13. A Frabotta block and Wingate error put Catawba back on top 16-14, but a 6-0 Wingate run put the 'Dogs on top 20-14. Potter, Brewer and Murach each had a kill in the spurt. The Indians would cut it to two at 21-19 on a pair of Wingate errors, but a kill from Murach and ace from Brewer helped the Bulldogs take a 24-19 lead. Murach capped the second frame with a kill.

Wingate jumped out to an 11-2 lead in the third set. Murach registered two kills and an ace in the early spurt. The Indians cut it to eight on a kill from Anna Logan, but a pair of Murach kills, along with a kill from freshman middle blocker Tyler Smith (Aiken, S.C.) made it 19-7. Three Stumpff kills, along with a Potter kill gave the 'Dogs a 24-14 lead. Stumpff finished the match with an ace.

Wingate hit .298 on the match, with 47 kills and 16 errors in 104 attacks. Catawba had 31 kills and 13 errors in 93 attacks, hitting .194. Tassone had a match-high four aces for the Bulldogs. Saehler had a match-high three blocks.

The Bulldogs return to action Sunday, taking on Lees-McRae at Carolina Courts at 3 p.m.