VIDEO | Abby Saehler Post-Match Interview
VIDEO | Shelton Collier Post-Match Interview

Wingate, N.C.----For the 11th year in a row, the Wingate University Bulldogs are regular season South Atlantic Conference champions. The Bulldogs claimed the outright league title with Saturday afternoon's 3-0 victory over Tusculum College in Cuddy Arena. Wingate won by scores of 25-21, 25-18 and 25-18 to improve to 26-5 overall and 18-4 in the SAC. The Pioneers fall to 12-18 overall and 7-15 in the conference.

The Bulldogs have won every regular season SAC title since 2006. Wingate has also picked up nine of the 10 SAC Tournament titles during that span, giving the 'Dogs 20 league titles since 2006. Wingate has a league-best 13 regular season SAC titles all-time. The Bulldogs are 179-9 overall in conference play since the start of the 2007 season.

"One of our most important goals every year is to win the regular season championship, so clinching sole possession of the title today on our home court was very rewarding," head coach Shelton Collier says. "This particular group of players battled some ups and downs along with some significant injuries, so for us to achieve this goal this year is very special for us."

Senior All-American Abby Saehler (Iowa City, Iowa) had 14 kills, four blocks and three digs to lead the Wingate attack, hitting .312 on the afternoon. Sophomore middle blocker Anna Holmquist (Lincoln, Nebr.) hit .615 with nine kills and five blocks, while junior outside hitter Katie Bludau (Seabrook, Texas) collected eight kills, eight digs and three blocks. Sophomore outside hitter Oakley Attaway (Orlando, Fla.) contributed six kills and five digs. Freshman Rachel Alles (Tinley Park, Ill.) compiled 30 assists, nine digs, four kills and two aces, while classmate Treslyn Ortiz (Texas City, Texas) collected 17 digs.

Sarah Bouley had nine kills and 12 digs to lead the Tusculum attack. Mariah Lewis and Rachel Garnett contributed six kills each, while Laryssa Welch added four kills and three blocks. Hallie Zumack had 15 assists and four digs, while Megan Yopko picked up 12 digs for the Pioneers.

Kills from Holmquist and Bludau, along with a block from the two gave Wingate a 9-7 lead in set one. Another Holmquist kill pushed the lead to three, but three Bulldog errors got TC within one at 12-11. A kill and an ace from Alles pushed the advantage back to three, but a Welch kill got Tusculum within a point at 14-13. Back-to-back Saehler kills put the 'Dogs back on top by three, while another block from Holmquist and Bludau made it 18-14. Kills from Bouley and Mariah Lewis got the Pioneers within one at 20-19, but a Holmquist kill made it 21-19. Garnett got Tusculum back within one with a kill, but a Tusculum error and Attaway ace made it 24-21. Lynnlee Mather (McDonough, Ga.) ended the set with a kill.

The Bulldogs raced out to a 12-2 lead in set two. Kills from Attaway, Saehler and Mather made it 5-0, while two kills and a block from Bludau helped Wingate stretch the lead to 10. A kill and a block from Garnett got Tusculum within six at 16-10, but an Attaway kill pushed the lead back to eight. Two Bouley kills got the Pioneers within four, but a kill and a block from Saehler, along with a Bludau kill made it 22-14. Back-to-back Saehler kills made it 24-17, while a Tusculum error ended the set.

Kills from Bludau, Attaway, Saehler and Alles gave the 'Dogs a 10-4 lead in the third set. Back-to-back Garnett kills made it 10-7, but two Attaway kills put Wingate on top 13-8. A Welch kill helped TC get within three at 16-13, but two Holmquist kills sparked a 5-0 Bulldog run to make it 22-14. Kills from Holmquist and Attaway made it 24-17, while a kill from senior Skylar Ricard (Greensboro, N.C.) ended the match. Wingate hit .421 in the final frame, piling up 20 kills against four errors in 38 attacks.

The Bulldogs hit .282 on the afternoon, with 47 kills and 14 errors in 117 attacks. The Pioneers had 30 kills and 18 errors in 108 attacks, hitting .111. Holmquist led all players with five blocks, with Saehler right behind her with four blocks. Alles had two of Wingate's five aces.

The Bulldogs are the number one seed in next week's South Atlantic Conference Tournament. The quarterfinals will be Tuesday night at 7 p.m. in Cuddy Arena. Wingate will host the semifinals and finals next weekend. The semifinals will be Friday at 4 p.m. and 6:30 p.m., with the championship match slated for 2 p.m. on Saturday in Cuddy Arena.