Box Score

Wingate, N.C.----The 12th-ranked Wingate University Bulldogs avenged a tough 3-2 loss from earlier Saturday afternoon with a 3-0 victory against No. 24 Armstrong State in NCAA Division II volleyball action in Cuddy Arena. Wingate won by scores of 25-21, 25-21 and 25-23 to move to 7-1 overall. The Pirates fall to 5-1 on the season.

Junior right-side hitter Shelly Stumpff (Iowa City, Iowa) had 12 kills and four digs to lead the Wingate attack. Sophomore middle blocker Abby Saehler (Iowa City Iowa) added 11 kills and four blocks, hitting .381 on the match. Senior outside hitter Susie Murach (Burke, Va.) contributed eight kills, three digs and two blocks while hitting .316, while senior middle blocker Lexi Potter (North Liberty, Iowa) had five kills and five blocks. Redshirt senior setter Alison Cooke (Davidson, N.C.) had 37 assists, five kills and two blocks, while freshman libero Kori Adams (Ayden, N.C.) collected nine digs.

"Our team showed a lot of character and competitive spirit in this match, which was very impressive," head coach Shelton Collier says. "We were losing by large margins in two of the sets, but we really battled back and found a way to win. Our players made some great tactical adjustments and elevated their level of play, which was very rewarding for us."

Rachel Thompson had 12 kills to lead the Armstrong attack, hitting .381. Emily Wylie added 10 kills for the Pirates, while Stephanie Sfara had nine kills and 12 digs. Kamryn Sherman compiled 36 assists and 12 digs.

A pair of Sfara kills helped the Pirates take a 13-7 lead in the opening set. Kills from Murach and Saehler cut the lead to four, but a Wingate error made it 14-9. The Bulldogs answered with seven straight points to take a 16-14 lead. Stumpff, Saehler and Murach each contributed a kill and a block to the flurry. A Thompson kill cut the lead to one, but three Stumpff kills helped the 'Dogs stretch the lead to four at 21-17. Kills from Stumpff and Saehler put Wingate on top 24-20, while a Saehler kill capped the set.

A 3-0 run, highlighted by kills from Potter and Saehler put Wingate on top 11-7 in set two. Kills from Sfara and Wylie helped the Pirates cut the lead to two at 15-13. Another Potter block highlighted a 3-0 run to make it 18-13, while a Murach kill and Saehler block made it 22-16. A Stumpff kill and Armstrong error made it 24-17. Kills from Thompson and Wylie helped the Pirates trim the deficit to three at 24-21, but a kill from freshman outside hitter Katie Bludau (Seabrook, Texas) capped the set.

A Wylie kill and two Wingate errors gave Armstrong an 11-7 lead in the third set. Kills from Stumpff and Saehler helped trim the lead to two at 13-11, but kills from Wylie, Sfara and Sherman pushed the advantage back to five at 18-13. A pair of Murach kills highlighted a 3-0 spurt to make it 18-16, while a Saehler kill got the 'Dogs to within one at 19-18. Kills from Thompson and Wylie put the Pirates back on top by three at 21-18. A Stumpff kill and two Armstrong errors tied the frame at 21. The Pirates regained the lead when a Wylie kill made it 23-22. An Armstrong error tied it at 23, while a Stumpff ace put the 'Dogs on top 24-23. Potter capped the match with a kill.

Wingate hit .256 on the match, with 45 kills and 15 errors in 117 attacks. Armstrong had 42 kills and 23 errors in 112 attacks to hit .170. Potter's five blocks were a match high, while Saehler was right behind her with four.

Wingate returns to action Tuesday, hosting Catawba at 7 p.m. to open SAC play.