Wingate, N.C.----The Wingate University Bulldogs celebrated Senior Day with a sweep over visiting Catawba College in South Atlantic Conference volleyball action Saturday afternoon in Cuddy Arena. Wingate won by scores of 25-22, 25-15 and 25-20 to improve to 22-2 overall and 16-2 in the SAC. Catawba falls to 4-19 overall and 2-16 in league play.

Senior outside hitter Katie Bludau (Seabrook, Texas) had 12 kill and three digs to lead the Wingate attack. Junior middle blocker Anna Holmquist (Lincoln, Nebr.) hit .364 with 10 kills and six blocks, while senior Rachael Cecka (Plymouth, Wisc.) had eight kills, four digs and four blocks. Senior setter Rachel Lods (Lancaster, Calif.) had 31 assists, nine digs and three blocks, while junior libero Kori Adams (Ayden, N.C.) picked up 21 digs.

"Senior Day is always a special day for everyone on our team," head coach Shelton Collier says. "It was great to have a nice Homecoming crowd and find a way to win today. We have two challenging road matches in Tennessee next weekend, so we will need to be well-prepared for those."

A Kimberly Hurtado block gave Catawba an 8-4 lead in set one, but Wingate countered with a 6-0 run, getting two kills and a block from Cecka to take a 10-8 lead. A kill and a block from Holmquist pushed the lead to three, but a kill and a block from Micah Ensor gave the Indians a 16-15 lead. Kills from Bludau and Cecka put the 'Dogs back on top, but a kill from Macy Eidenberger gave the Indians a 20-18 lead. Kills from Holmquist and Cecka tied it at 20, while kills from Holmquist and Bludau put the Bulldogs on top 24-22. A Catawba error ended the first set.

Two Holmquist kills, along with a kill and two blocks from Lynnlee Mather (McDonough, Ga.) gave Wingate a 10-4 lead in set two. Back-to-back kills from Oakley Attaway (Orlando, Fla.) pushed the lead to seven, while a pair of kills from Rachel Alles (Tinley Park, Ill.) made it 17-9. Kills from Bludau and Attaway made it 21-13, while kills from Attaway and Alles made it 24-15. Another Alles kill ended the frame. Wingate hit .300 in set two, while the Indians hit -.029.

Cecka and Holmquist contributed two kills apiece in a 6-0 run that gave Wingate a 12-6 advantage in set three. Kills from Bludau and Lods gave Wingate put Wingate on top 15-10, but a kill from Ensor got Catawba within one at 15-14. A pair of Bludau kills pushed the lead back to four, while kills from Cecka, Holmquist and Bludau made it 24-19. Holmquist ended the match with a kill. The Bulldogs hit .429 in the final frame, with 19 kills and just one error.  

Wingate hit .267 on the day, with 45 kills and 14 errors in 116 attacks. Catawba had 30 kills and 21 errors in 120 attacks, hitting .075. Three different Bulldogs registered an ace, while Holmquist led all players with six blocks.

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