Wingate, N.C.----In her first match since the 2015 season, Wingate University redshirt senior right-side hitter Rachael Cecka (Plymouth, Wisc.) piled up a career-high 11 kills Tuesday night, leading the Bulldogs to a 3-0 victory over visiting Newberry College in South Atlantic Conference volleyball action in Cuddy Arena. Wingate won by scores of 25-16, 25-13 and 25-16 to improve to 7-0 overall and 2-0 in the SAC, while the Wolves fall to 4-3 overall and 0-1 in the conference.

Cecka hit .320 on the night, collecting 11 kills in 25 swings. Junior middle blocker Anna Holmquist (Lincoln, Nebr.) added nine kills in 14 swings, hitting .643 while adding three blocks. Senior outside hitter Katie Bludau (Seabrook, Texas) had six kills, nine digs and three blocks in two sets of action, while sophomore middle blocker Lynnlee Mather (McDonough, Ga.) had four kills and two blocks in one set. Sophomore setter Rachel Alles (Tinley Park, Ill.) had 23 assists, 20 digs, three kills and two blocks, while junior Kori Adams (Ayden, N.C.) collected 12 digs in two sets of action.

"It was particularly rewarding to have Rachael Cecka back on the court after being out two full years recovering from knee surgeries," head coach Shelton Collier says. "It was a perfect script for her to come back and lead us in kills. We played three different lineups tonight and all three played well, which is important for us."

Two Cecka kills, along with a kill and two blocks from Phoebe Havenaar (Naperville, Ill.) helped Wingate jump out to a 6-0 lead in set one, but a kill from Toni-Anne Whitlow tied the set at 7-7. The Bulldogs scored the next six points, taking a 13-7 lead on a pair of Holmquist kills. A block and a kill from Holmquist made it 17-8, while back-to-back Cecka kills put the 'Dogs on top 23-13. A Newberry error made it 24-14, while another error from the Wolves ended the frame.

The Bulldogs jumped out to a 12-3 lead in set two, with Bludau collecting four early kills in the spurt. A kill and two blocks from Holmquist made it 19-10, while a Rachel Truslow (Matthews, N.C.) ace and Bludau kill gave Wingate a 21-10 advantage. A Mather kill and Newberry error made it 24-13, while another Mather kill ended the set.

The Bulldogs used a 9-0 run to take an 18-7 lead in the third set, getting three aces from Truslow and two Cecka kills. Kills from Alles and Hannah Givens (Greensburg, Ky.) made it 21-9, while kills from Cecka and freshman Sophie Schaff (League City, Texas) gave the 'Dogs a 24-16 advantage. Holmquist ended the match with a kill.

Wingate hit .198 on the night, with 43 kills and 19 errors in 121 attacks. Newberry had 20 kills and 20 errors in 121 attacks, hitting .000. Truslow had five of Wingate's seven aces on the night, while Holmquist and Bludau led the Bulldogs with three blocks apiece.

Wingate is back in action Friday night, hosting Anderson at 7 p.m. on ESPN3.