Brevard, N.C.----The Wingate University Bulldogs are back in a tie for first place in the league standings after a 3-0 victory at Brevard College in South Atlantic Conference volleyball action Friday night. Wingate won by scores of 25-15, 25-18 and 25-18 to improve to 24-4 overall and 16-3 in the SAC. The Tornados fall to 5-21 overall and 4-15 in the conference.

Senior All-American Abby Saehler (Iowa City, Iowa) had 10 kills and 10 digs to lead the Wingate attack, hitting .308 while adding three blocks. Sophomore outside hitter Oakley Attaway (Orlando, Fla.) added nine kills and six digs, while junior outside hitter Katie Bludau (Seabrook, Texas) contributed eight kills and five digs. Sophomore middle blocker Anna Holmquist (Lincoln, Nebr.) had five kills and three blocks in her first match back from injury since early September. Freshman Rachel Alles (Tinley Park, Ill.) had 25 assists and seven digs, while classmate Treslyn Ortiz (Texas City, Texas) collected 16 digs.

"This was a good road win for us tonight," head coach Shelton Collier says. "I thought Treslyn was the most influential player in the gym and really led a focused effort by us. We are still in the hunt for the regular season title so every match is really important at this stage of the season."

Callie Chappell had nine kills to lead the Brevard attack. Hannah Elmore added eight kills and four digs, while Rachel Ruble contributed three kills and three digs. Erin Barr handed out 20 assists, while Aleksandra Vrvillo picked up 22 digs.

Kills from Bludau and Lynnlee Mather (McDonough, Ga.) gave Wingate a 10-5 lead in set one. A 5-0 run pushed the advantage to nine, with sophomore Taylor Williams (Keedysville, Md.) contributing a pair of kills to the flurry. A kill and a block from Saehler made it 19-8, while an Alles block and Saehler kill made it 24-15. Attaway ended the first set with a kill.

A kill and a block from Saehler put the Bulldogs on top 9-7 in set two, but A Chappell kill got the Tornados within one. A kill and a block from Saehler gave the 'Dogs a 15-10 advantage, but a kill from Ruble cut the lead to two at 15-13. Kills from Bludau and Holmquist, along with a Saehler ace pushed the lead back to six at 19-13, while kills from Saehler and Mather made it 24-18. Attaway ended the frame with a kill.

Back-to-back Chappell kills gave the Tornados a 10-7 lead in set three. A Holmquist kill cut the lead to two, but another Chappell kill made it 13-10. Wingate responded by scoring nine of the next 10 points. Attaway had three kills in the spurt, while Alles added a kill and a block. Back-to-back Attaway kills, along with a Holmquist kill gave the Bulldogs a 22-16 lead. Another Attaway kill made it 24-18, while a Brevard error ended the match.

Wingate hit .240 on the night, with 40 kill and 14 errors in 109 attacks. Brevard had 25 kills and 25 errors in 125 attacks, hitting .000 in the match. Saehler, Alles and Holmquist led the Bulldogs with three blocks each, while Saehler had the lone Wingate ace on the night.

The Bulldogs are back in action Saturday, traveling to Lenoir-Rhyne for their final regular season road match at 2 p.m.