Wingate, N.C.----The eight-time defending South Atlantic Conference regular season and tournament champion Wingate University Bulldogs have announced their schedule for the 2014 season. Wingate won its second consecutive NCAA Southeast regional title in 2013, advancing to the NCAA Elite Eight for the third time in four years. The Bulldogs have 30 matches on the 2014 slate, including 22 SAC contests and 15 home matches.

"We are looking forward to a great season this fall," head coach Shelton Collier says. "We open with a good tournament at Newberry, followed by a sure to be exciting doubleheader at home against Armstrong State. The South Atlantic Conference regular season double round-robin always presents challenges, so our goal is to be well-prepared for success in the regular season as well as in the postseason. Our players understand that only one team from our entire region qualifies for the Elite Eight, so we will be focused on this goal as well."

The Bulldogs enjoyed another successful season in 2013, finishing 32-3 overall and 22-0 in the SAC. Wingate went undefeated in conference play for the sixth time in the last seven years, while pushing its SAC winning streak to 37 matches. The Bulldogs hosted the NCAA Southeast Regional Tournament for the fifth time in the last six years, advancing to the Sweet 16 for the sixth straight time while also winning their second straight regional championship and third in four years. Wingate was ranked as high as ninth in the AVCA top 25, the highest ranking in program history. The 'Dogs have a nation's best .938 winning percentage over the last seven years, going 227-15 overall and 120-2 in conference play.

Wingate opens the 2014 season Friday, Sept. 5, playing a pair of matches at the Newberry Invitational. The Bulldogs face King at 2 p.m., then face USC Aiken at 6 p.m. King went 32-5 in 2013, posting a 17-1 record in Conference Carolinas. USC Aiken was 19-13 last year and 9-9 in the Peach Belt. The Bulldogs and Pacers met in Aiken in 2012, with Wingate prevailing 3-1. The Bulldogs face Belmont Abbey Saturday, Sept. 6 at 9 a.m. in Newberry in a rematch of the 2013 NCAA Southeast regional quarterfinals, which Wingate won 3-0. The Crusaders were 28-4 last season, going 17-1 in Conference Carolinas. The Bulldogs face Columbus State at 3 p.m. on Saturday in the final match of the Newberry Invitational. The Cougars were 20-11 last season, going 12-6 in the Peach Belt.

The Bulldogs open their home slate Tuesday, Sept. 9, hosting a tri-match against UNC Pembroke and Erskine. Wingate takes on UNCP at 3:30 p.m. in Cuddy Arena, while facing Erskine at 7:30 p.m. The Braves and Flying Fleet will play each other at 5:30 p.m. in Cuddy Arena. UNCP finished 16-21 in 2013, with a 4-14 record in the Peach Belt. Wingate swept the Braves in the most recent meeting in 2012 in Cuddy Arena. Erskine went 12-15 last season, posting a 10-8 record in Conference Carolinas.

Wingate will host a doubleheader against Armstrong State Saturday, Sept. 13. The first match is at 11 a.m., with the second match taking place at 5 p.m. The Bulldogs and Pirates met in the 2013 regional title match, with Wingate prevailing 3-1. Armstrong went 32-2 in 2013, ranking 20th in the final AVCA top 25. The Pirates were ranked 17th when they met the Bulldogs in the regional finals. It was one of three victories over top-20 opponents for Wingate last season. Armstrong went 18-0 in the Peach Belt. The Pirates hosted the NCAA Regionals in 2012, which the Bulldogs won. Armstrong is the only school other than Wingate to host the regionals since 2007.

The Bulldogs open conference play Tuesday, Sept. 16, hosting Catawba at 7 p.m. Wingate won both matches against the Indians last season, and has now won 13 straight matches against Catawba. The Indians were 4-20 in 2013 with a 4-18 mark in SAC play. Wingate stays home to host Brevard Friday, Sept. 19 at 7 p.m. The Bulldogs are 16-0 against the Tornados, who finished 7-21 overall last season and 3-19 in the SAC.

Wingate hosts Lenoir-Rhyne Saturday, Sept. 20 at 5 p.m. The Bulldogs swept the Bears at home last season, while prevailing in five sets on the road. Wingate's lone SAC road loss in the last seven years came at Lenoir-Rhyne in 2012, when the Bears won 3-1. The 'Dogs have won 37 consecutive league matches since that loss. The Bulldogs are 60-1 in SAC road matches since the start of the 2007 season. LRU was 17-10 overall and 14-8 in the SAC last year. Wingate wraps up an eight-match home stand Tuesday, Sept. 23, hosting Queens at 7 p.m. The 'Dogs beat the Royals 3-1 in both regular season meetings last year, while winning 3-0 in the SAC Tournament semifinals. Queens was 17-12 overall and 14-8 in the conference last year. The Royals earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament in 2013.

Wingate starts a challenging five-match road trip Friday, Sept. 26 at Anderson at 7 p.m. The Bulldogs and Trojans met four times last season, with Wingate sweeping three of those contests. The 'Dogs won 3-1 in the first meeting in Cuddy Arena, then won 3-0 at Anderson. Wingate defeated the Trojans 3-0 in the SAC Tournament championship match, then won 3-0 again in the regional semifinals. Anderson went 19-15 last year and 14-8 in the SAC. The 'Dogs have won 13 straight against the Trojans. The last time Anderson defeated Wingate was the first meeting between the two teams, in 1999.

The Bulldogs travel to Newberry Saturday, Sept. 27 at 2 p.m. Wingate swept both regular season meetings against the Wolves in 2013, while prevailing 3-1 in the opening round of the SAC Tournament, which Newberry hosted. The Wolves were 18-13 last season, going 12-10 in the conference and earning an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament for the third straight year. Wingate has won 44 consecutive matches against Newberry, leading the all-time series 44-2.

The Bulldogs travel to Lincoln Memorial Friday, Oct. 3, taking on the Railsplitters at 7 p.m. Wingate swept LMU at home in 2013, while winning 3-1 in Harrogate. The Bulldogs are 15-0 against the Railsplitters, who went 18-13 overall last year and 14-8 in the SAC.  Wingate is at Carson-Newman Saturday, Oct. 4 at 5 p.m. The 'Dogs won 3-1 at Carson-Newman last year, while sweeping the Eagles at home. Wingate has won 24 consecutive matches against Carson-Newman, who finished 12-17 overall and 7-15 in the SAC in 2013. The Bulldogs finish the road trip Tuesday, Oct. 7 at Coker at 7 p.m. Wingate swept both matches against the Cobras last year. Coker was 3-28 overall in 2013 and 0-22 in the conference.

Wingate returns home Friday, Oct. 10, hosting Mars Hill at 7 p.m. The Bulldogs won both meetings last season in four sets. Wingate has not lost to Mars Hill in the Shelton Collier era, which began in 2002. The Bulldogs are 28-0 against the Lions since 2002. Mars Hill was 16-12 overall and 13-9 in the SAC last year. Wingate hosts Tusculum Saturday, Oct. 11 at 5 p.m. The Bulldogs swept the Pioneers in both meetings last season and have now won five straight in the series since Tusculum won 3-1 at Wingate in 2012, snapping the historic 83-match SAC winning streak. The Bulldogs have won 18 of their last 19 matches against Tusculum, who finished 21-11 overall and 15-7 in the SAC in 2013, earning an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament for the fifth straight year.

Wingate opens the second half of the SAC season with a four-match road trip, starting at Queens on Tuesday, Oct. 14 at 7 p.m. The 'Dogs are at Brevard Oct. 17 at 7 p.m. and at Lenoir-Rhyne Oct. 18 at 2 p.m. A trip to Catawba Tuesday, Oct. 21 caps the road trip. The Bulldogs then have five straight home dates, starting Friday, Oct. 24 against Anderson at 7 p.m. Newberry comes to town the next day for a 5 p.m. match. The following weekend sees LMU come to Cuddy Arena Friday, Oct. 31 at 7 p.m. Carson-Newman is at Wingate Saturday, Nov. 1 at 2 p.m. Coker comes to town Tuesday, Nov. 4 at 7 p.m. The regular season ends with a two-day trip, starting with a 7 p.m. match at Mars Hill Friday, Nov. 7. The Bulldogs are at Tusculum Saturday, Nov. 8 at 2 p.m. to wrap up the regular season.

The Bulldogs will go in search of a ninth consecutive SAC Tournament title in 2014. The tournament will take place Nov. 14-16 at Lenoir-Rhyne University in Hickory. The NCAA Southeast Regionals will take place Nov. 21-23. Wingate has hosted five of the last six regional tournaments. The Bulldogs have also advanced to the Elite Eight three of the last four years. This year's Elite Eight will take place Dec. 4-6 in Louisville, Ky. 

WINGATE UNIVERSITY
 
Wingate University, ranked as the 8th "best value" in the South by U.S. News & World Report, serves more than 3,000 students on three campuses in Wingate, Charlotte and Hendersonville, N.C. Founded in 1896, the University offers 35 undergraduate majors, 37 minors and career concentrations, numerous pre-professional programs, graduate degrees in business, accounting, education, physician assistant studies and sport administration, and doctorates in pharmacy, physical therapy and education.
 
With a 14 to 1 student/teacher ratio, Wingate students gain the tools and support needed to excel in academics and apply that learning toward an extraordinary career and life. To view current news, video and story ideas, visit www.youtube.com/wingateuniversity. 
 
In addition to a robust intramural athletics program, Wingate student athletes compete in 22 NCAA Division II sports. The University has won the South Atlantic Conference Echols Athletic Excellence Award for the past eight years. For more information, go to www.wingate.edu.
 
Wingate is first among NCAA Division II Academic All-America®-producing colleges in the 2000's with 67 selections. Among North Carolina's colleges and universities, Wingate's 67 Academic All-America® honorees are number one during this millennium. Wingate's 76 lifetime Academic All-America® picks are tops among all SAC schools. For more information on WU athletics, go to www.wingatebulldogs.com.