Box Score

Newberry, S.C.----The 15th-ranked Wingate University Bulldogs registered their best team hitting percentage in nearly three years Friday evening, sweeping USC Aiken on day one of the 2014 Newberry Invitational in NCAA Division II volleyball action. The 'Dogs hit .402 on the day, prevailing 25-15, 25-19 and 25-16 to improve to 2-0 on the season. USC Aiken falls to 1-1 overall.

The last time the Bulldogs hit for a higher percentage was in October of 2011, when Wingate hit .444 against Shaw. Sophomore middle blocker Abby Saehler (Iowa City, Iowa) led the way, hitting .714 with 10 kills in 14 swings without an error. All-American middle blocker Lexi Potter (North Liberty, Iowa) hit .500 for the second time in as many matches Friday, notching eight kills. Junior right-side hitter Shelly Stumpff (Iowa City, Iowa) also had eight kills, adding four digs and two aces, while redshirt senior outside hitter Cory McGowan (Pittsburgh, Pa.) contributed seven kills. Redshirt senior setter Alison Cooke (Davidson, N.C.) handed out 33 assists, while senior defensive specialist Stephanie Tassone (Chicago, Ill.) collected 10 digs.

"I am normally our toughest critique in terms of expectations," head coach Shelton Collier says. "I can say that tonight was really one of the more complete and impressive performances of a Wingate team. USC Aiken has some very good players, but we elevated our level of play and had an awesome team performance at every position."

Taylor Stratton, Sheila Walsh and Ashley Diedrich had six kills each to lead the USC Aiken attack, while Hannah Tierney added five kills. Walsh handed out 18 assists for the Pacers, while also adding a team-best seven digs.

Kills from Potter and McGowan, along with an ace from senior outside hitter Susie Murach (Burke, Va.) helped Wingate jump out to a 7-2 lead in the first set. A block from Julia Forster trimmed the lead to three at 13-10. The Bulldogs responded with a 7-1 run to push the lead to nine. Cooke had a kill and a block in the spurt, while McGowan capped it with an ace to make it 20-11. A Potter kill, along with an ace from freshman outside hitter Katie Bludau (Seabrook, Texas) made it 23-14. A USC Aiken error ended the opening frame.

A Saehler kill and Tassone ace gave the 'Dogs a 13-10 lead in set two. Walsh answered with a kill, but kills from McGowan and Stumpff extended the Wingate lead to four. Kills from Stumpff and Murach put the Bulldogs on top 20-14, while a Saehler kill made it 24-17. A USC Aiken error ended the second set. Wingate hit .519 in set two with 16 kills and just two errors in 27 attacks.

The third set saw the Pacers jump out to a 7-4 lead on a Diedrich kill. A Murach kill tied it 10-10, while a Saehler kill put the 'Dogs on top 12-11. Wingate added a 5-0 run to push the lead to 17-12 on another Saehler kill. A Diedrich block and Wingate error trimmed the lead to three at 19-16, but the Bulldogs responded by closing the match on a 6-0 run. Stumpff started the flurry with a kill, while McGowan and Potter capped the match with kills. Wingate had 15 kills and two errors in the final frame, hitting .371.

The Bulldogs finished the night with 41 kills and just six errors in 87 attacks to hit .402. USC Aiken hit .105 with 27 kills and 18 errors in 86 attacks. Saehler collected a match-high three blocks, while McGowan, Stumpff and freshman libero Kori Adams (Ayden, N.C.) had two aces each.

Wingate returns to action Saturday on day two of the Newberry Invitational. The Bulldogs face Belmont Abbey at 9 a.m. in a rematch of the 2013 NCAA Southeast regional quarterfinal match. Wingate wraps up the weekend Saturday at 3 p.m., taking on Columbus State.