Box Score Wingate, N.C.----The Carson-Newman University Eagles snapped Wingate's 55-match SAC winning streak Saturday afternoon, defeating the seventh-ranked Bulldogs 3-2 in South Atlantic Conference volleyball action in Cuddy Arena. Carson-Newman won by scores of 17-25, 25-20, 28-26, 19-25 and 15-13 to improve to 22-5 overall and 17-2 in the SAC. Wingate falls to 25-2 overall and 18-1 in the conference.

Rachel Harper had 18 kills and 15 digs to lead the Carson-Newman attack, adding three aces and two blocks. Lauren Santarelli added 15 kills and three blocks, while Jenna Wilson contributed 10 kills and six blocks. Kiayna O'Neal had nine kills with a .529 hitting percentage. Kristen Pickett had 49 assists and 19 digs, while Taylor Lowe added 15 digs.

Senior outside hitter Susie Murach (Burke, Va.) had 15 kills to lead the Wingate attack, hitting .316. Junior right-side hitter Shelly Stumpff (Iowa City, Iowa) added 14 kills, 14 digs and three aces, while sophomore middle blocker Abby Saehler (Iowa City, Iowa) had 12 kills with a .375 hitting percentage. Senior middle blocker Lexi Potter (North Liberty, Iowa) contributed eight kills and two blocks, while senior Cory McGowan (Pittsburgh, Pa.) had four kills to go along with 16 digs. Redshirt senior setter Alison Cooke (Davidson, N.C.) piled up 52 assists, seven digs, four kills and two blocks while freshman libero Kori Adams (Ayden, N.C.) collected 19 digs.

"We have not set a goal to go undefeated in the conference, so it is not unexpected to at some point get caught with a loss," head coach Shelton Collier says. "We also never discuss winning streaks or how many consecutive wins we have over a team, until a streak ends. Then we take time to appreciate the exceptional effort and impressive consistency that goes into these amazing winning streaks. Every one of our goals is still in play, so we will bounce back and be fine."

Wingate used a 6-0 run to take a 12-5 lead in the opening frame, getting a Saehler kill and Adams ace in the flurry. A kill and a block from Murach helped the Bulldogs push the lead to nine at 18-9. A Potter kill, followed by an ace from freshman Katie Bludau (Seabrook, Texas) made it 23-16. A Potter kill made it 24-16, while a Murach kill capped the opening frame.

A Harper kill and Wingate error gave the Eagles a 10-5 lead in set two. Three straight Murach kills, along with a Saehler kill cut the lead to two at 11-9. A Harper kill pushed the lead back to four at 18-14, but kills from Potter and Murach helped trim the lead back to three at 19-16. A Santarelli kill put Carson-Newman ahead 23-17, but a Stumpff kill and two Eagle errors made it 23-20. A Wingate error made it 24-20, while a block from O'Neal capped the second frame.

Wingate used a 3-0 run to take a 12-9 lead in set three, sparked by a Murach kill. A block and a kill from Harper tied it at 12, but a Murach kill and Carson-Newman error made it 14-12. The Eagles answered with an 8-0 run, getting two Santarelli kills and two Harper aces in the flurry. Wingate used a 3-0 run to cut the lead to one, with Stumpff providing a kill and an ace in the spurt. A Potter block tied the frame at 23, but a kill from O'Neal gave the Eagles set point. An error tied it at 24, while a Saehler kill put the 'Dogs on top by one. A Wingate error and Santarelli kill put the Eagles on top, but a Murach kill tied it at 26. A Harper kill gave Carson-Newman a 27-26 advantage, while a Santarelli kill ended the set.

Wingate jumped out to an 8-4 lead in set four, getting a kill and a block from Saehler. A kill and two aces from Stumpff made it 15-7, while a Murach kill made it 19-11. A pair of O'Neal kills trimmed the lead to four at 21-17, but kills from Potter and Stumpff made it 23-17. A McGowan block made it 24-18, while a Murach kill ended the set.

The fifth set featured eight ties. A pair of Santarelli kills helped the Eagles jump out to a 5-3 lead. Kills from Potter and Saehler tied it at five, but another Santarelli kill pushed the lead back to two at 7-5. Kills from McGowan and Murach helped the 'Dogs tie it 9-9, while Stumpff answered a Harper kill with a kill of her own to make it 10-10. A Wilson kill and Wingate error gave the Eagles a 13-11 advantage, but a Carson-Newman error and Murach kill tied it at 13. The eagles took a 14-13 lead on a Santarelli kill, while a Wingate error finished the match.

The Eagles hit .223 on the day, with 63 kills and 24 errors in 175 attacks. Wingate had 60 kills and 21 errors in 169 attacks, hitting .231. Stumpff had three of Wingate's six aces, while Saehler led the 'Dogs with three blocks.

The Bulldogs are back in action Tuesday, hosting Coker at 7 p.m.