Charlotte, N.C.----The Wingate University Bulldogs cruised to a 3-0 victory over Francis Marion University Friday morning on day one of the Queens Invitational in NCAA Division II volleyball action. Wingate won by scores of 25-13, 25-19 and 25-12 to improve to 1-0 on the year, while FMU falls to 0-1 on the season.

Senior outside hitter Katie Bludau (Seabrook, Texas) had 14 kills to lead the Wingate attack, needing just 22 swings while hitting .545. Junior middle blocker Anna Holmquist (Lincoln, Nebr.) hit .500 with five kills and four blocks in two sets, while junior outside hitter Taylor Williams (Keedysville, Md.) hit .455 with five kills. Sophomore setter Rachel Alles (Tinley Park, Ill.) had 18 assists and 11 digs in two sets of action, while senior Rachel Lods (Lancaster, Calif.) added 16 assists and eight digs in two sets. Senior Rachel Truslow (Matthews, N.C.) collected 10 digs for the Bulldogs.

"We were well-prepared to start our season, with a number of veteran players returning ready to play," head coach Shelton Collier says. "Katie has been impressive with her preparation and it showed in our first match of the season. We played a variety of combinations, using 17 players, so it was a great start to our season."

A kill and a block from Holmquist, along with a kill and an ace from redshirt sophomore Phoebe Havenaar (Naperville, Ill.) gave Wingate a 12-5 lead in set one. A Shelbi Meek kill got FMU within five, but kills from Holmquist and Bludau pushed the advantage to 17-8. Back-to-back Bludau kills put the 'Dogs on top 23-10, while a Havenaar kill made it 24-11. Williams ended the first frame with a kill.

A block and a kill from Bludau, along with a kill from freshman Anne Abernathy (Knoxville, Tenn.) gave the 'Dogs a 7-2 lead in the second set. Back-to-back Holmquist kills pushed the lead to seven, while kills from Bludau and Williams made it 18-9. Holmquist added a pair of kills to make it 21-13, while a Bludau kill put the Bulldogs on top 24-18. Abernathy ended the second set with a kill. Wingate hit .462 in the second frame, with 13 kills and just one error.

A pair of kills from junior Hannah Givens (Greensburg, Ky.) gave Wingate a 7-1 lead in the third set, while back-to-back Bludau kills and back-to-back Truslow aces made it 13-3. An ace from freshman Sophie Schaff (League City, Texas) made it 15-4, while a kill and a block from Schaff made it 21-10. Kills from redshirt freshman Hanna Knaley (Florence, Ky.) and junior Dunja Sobot (Backa Palanka Serbia) put Wingate on top 24-11, while another Sobot kill ended the match. The Bulldogs hit .400 in the final frame, with 15 kills and three errors in 30 attacks.

Wingate hit .363 on the day, with 43 kills and 10 errors in 91 attacks. The Patriots had 29 kills and 17 errors in 98 attacks, hitting .122. Truslow and Treslyn Ortiz (Texas City, Texas) had two aces each to lead the Bulldogs, while Holmquist's four blocks were a match high.

Wingate is back in action Friday afternoon, taking on Augusta at 3 p.m.