Wingate, N.C.----Wingate University senior outside hitter Katie Bludau (Seabrook, Texas) continued her impressive season Friday night, piling up 18 kills to lead the Bulldogs to a 3-0 victory over visiting Carson-Newman University in South Atlantic Conference volleyball action in Cuddy Arena. Wingate won by scores of 25-12, 25-13 and 25-11 to improve to 14-0 overall and 9-0 in the SAC. The Eagles fall to 7-7 overall and 4-6 in league play.

Bludau needed just 34 swings to collect her 18 kills, hitting .529 without committing an error. Junior middle blocker Anna Holmquist (Lincoln, Nebr.) hit .500 with six kills and three blocks in two sets, while sophomore middle blocker Phoebe Havenaar (Naperville, Ill.) added five kills and three aces. Sophomore setter Rachel Alles (Tinley Park, Ill.) handed out 24 assists in two sets, while senior Rachel Lods (Lancaster, Calif.) contributed 12 assists. Sophomore Treslyn Ortiz (Texas City, Texas) collected 11 digs, while junior Kori Adams (Ayden, N.C.) added 10 digs.

"This past week we had the best week of practice we have had in several years, so it was rewarding to see our progress pay off in a home match tonight," head coach Shelton Collier says. "Our offense and our defense is developing each week and tonight we were very good in both areas."

A pair of Holmquist kills gave Wingate a 10-4 lead in the opening set, but a kill from Alex Biro got the Eagles back within five. A Holmquist kill, along with a pair of kills from Oakley Attaway (Orlando, Fla.) pushed the lead to 17-8, while another Holmquist kill made it 19-10. The Bulldogs ended the set on a 6-0 run, with a pair of Havenaar kills making it 24-12. Bludau finished the frame with a kill.

Wingate took a 5-2 lead in the second set on a kill from Sophie Schaff (League City, Texas), but a Marnie Streeter kill made it 7-7. Kills from Attaway and Holmquist put the 'Dogs on top 9-7, while an 11-0 run pushed the lead to 11. Bludau piled up four kills in the spurt. Two more kills and a block from Bludau made it 23-11, while another Bludau kill made it 24-12. Attaway finished the frame with a kill. Bludau had 10 kills in the set, while the 'Dogs hit .429 in the frame.

Two Bludau kills along with two aces from Adams gave the Bulldogs a 5-0 lead in set three, while three Havenaar aces made it 12-4. Two kills from Hannah Givens (Greensburg, Ky.), along with kills from Bludau and Lynnlee Mather (McDonough, Ga.) gave Wingate a 16-7 advantage. Kills from Bludau and Havenaar, along with an Adams ace made it 21-10, while a Givens kill made it 24-11. Havenaar and senior Rachael Cecka (Plymouth, Wisc.) teamed for a block to end the match. Wingate hit .435 in the final set.

The Bulldogs hit a season-high .391 on the night, with 42 kills and just eight errors in 87 attacks. Carson-Newman had 20 kills and 15 errors in 85 attacks, hitting .059. Holmquist led the way with three blocks, while Adams and Havenaar led the 'Dogs with three aces apiece.

Wingate is back in action Saturday, hosting Lincoln Memorial at 2 p.m.