Jefferson City, Tenn.----The Wingate University Bulldogs bounced back from an opening-set loss Saturday evening, prevailing 3-1 at Carson-Newman University in South Atlantic Conference volleyball action. Wingate won by scores of 22-25, 25-17, 25-15 and 25-23 to improve to 23-4 overall and 15-3 in the SAC. The Eagles fall to 3-22 overall and 2-15 in the conference.

Sophomore outside hitter Oakley Attaway (Orlando, Fla.) hit .333 with 13 kills and eight digs to lead the Wingate attack. All-American Abby Saehler (Iowa City, Iowa) added 12 kills, 17 digs and four blocks, while junior outside hitter Katie Bludau (Seabrook, Texas) contributed 11 kills, four digs and two blocks. Freshman middle blocker Lynnlee Mather (McDonough, Ga.) hit .421 with nine kills and six blocks, while sophomore Taylor Williams (Keedysville, Md.) had seven kills and three blocks. Freshman setter Rachel Alles (Tinley Park, Ill.) compiled 39 assists, nine digs and six kills, while classmate Treslyn Ortiz (Texas City, Texas) collected 21 digs.

"Our players are learning how hard it is to win in an opponents' gym when the opponent is playing more inspired and determined," head coach Shelton Collier says. "In the fourth set, it looked as if we were going to pushed to a fifth set, but we really elevated our game and made a great comeback to close out the match in the fourth set. We have two more road matches coming next weekend, so we hope we can be well-prepared for them."

Marnie Streeter had 14 kills to lead the Carson-Newman attack. Alex Biro added eight kills, while Natalie Harris and Abbie McFarlane contributed seven and six kills, respectively. Anna Patton handed out 34 assists, while Taylor Lowe registered 23 digs.

An ace from Harris gave the Eagles a 10-7 lead in set one, but an Attaway kill and two Carson-Newman errors tied it. Wingate used a 4-0 run to take a 19-16 advantage, getting a kill and an ace from Saehler along with a block and a kill from Mather. Another Harris ace got C-N within one, but a kill and a block from Mather gave the 'Dogs a 21-18 advantage. A kill and a block from Biro tied it at 21, while a McFarlane kill and Biro error put the Eagles on top 23-21. A Mather kill cut the lead to one, but kills from McFarlane and Streeter ended the frame.

A kill and an ace from Alles gave the Bulldogs an 11-7 lead in set two. A Streeter kill got the Eagles within three, but a Williams kill and Mather block put Wingate on top 17-10. Carson-Newman answered with a 4-0 run, cutting the lead to three on a Patton kill. A kill and a block from Bludau put the 'Dogs on top 21-15, while a pair of Williams kills made it 23-16. Williams added another kill to make it 24-17, while a block from Williams and Saehler ended the frame.

A Mather kill and two Hannah Givens (Greensburg, Ky.) aces gave Wingate a 13-7 lead in set three. Kills from Bludau and Saehler extended the lead to eight, while an Attaway kill made it 19-10. Kills from Attaway and Mather gave the Bulldogs a 24-14 lead, while a Williams kill ended the set.

Back-to-back Attaway kills gave Wingate a 9-7 lead in set four, but a Streeter kill tied it at 11. A Bludau kill helped the 'Dogs stretch the lead back to three, but a Biro block and Wingate error put the Eagles on top 16-15. Kills from Harris and Streeter helped Carson-Newman take a 21-19 lead, but a Mather kill cut the advantage to one. A Harris kill gave the Eagles a 23-21 advantage, but back-to-back Attaway kills tied it at 23. Saehler followed with a kill to make it 24-23, while another Saehler kill ended the match.

Wingate hit .245 on the day, with 58 kills and 19 errors in 159 attacks. Carson-Newman hit .131 with 43 kills and 24 errors in 145 attacks. Mather led all players with six blocks, while Givens had two of Wingate's four aces.

The Bulldogs are back in action Friday, traveling to Lenoir-Rhyne for a 7 p.m. start.