Mars Hill, N.C.----The Wingate University Bulldogs rolled to a 3-0 victory at Mars Hill University Saturday afternoon in South Atlantic Conference volleyball action. Wingate won by scores of 25-15, 25-23 and 25-13 to improve to 11-0 overall and 6-0 in the SAC. The Lions fall to 1-8 overall and 0-6 in league play.

Senior outside hitter Katie Bludau (Seabrook, Texas) piled up 15 kills, hitting .387 while adding two blocks and two digs to lead the Wingate attack. Junior middle blocker Anna Holmquist (Lincoln, Nebr.) hit .500 with eight kills, while junior outside hitter Taylor Williams (Keedysville, Md.) contributed seven kills for the Bulldogs. Freshman right-side hitter Anne Abernathy (Knoxville, Tenn.) collected six kills in eight swings, hitting .750 on the day. Sophomore setter Rachel Alles (Tinley Park, Ill.) had 38 assists, 10 digs and three blocks, while junior Kori Adams (Ayden, N.C.) picked up 19 digs.

"After having such a long, tough five-set win last night, it was rewarding for our team to recover this afternoon both emotionally and physically to play well and win," head coach Shelton Collier says. "We had some impressive performances by a number of our players, which was great to see. Katie Bludau continues to be so impressive with her leadership and her high level of play."

Wingate used a 5-0 run to take a 12-7 lead in the first set, getting a kill and a block from junior outside hitter Oakley Attaway (Orlando, Fla.). A pair of Bludau kills pushed the advantage to six, but an ace from Elizabeth Kaeser got Mars Hill within four at 18-14. Senior Rachael Cecka (Plymouth, Wisc.) answered with a kill, while the 'Dogs would go on to end the set on a 6-0 run. Holmquist started the flurry with a kill, while back-to-back Bludau kills and another Holmquist kill made it 24-15. Williams ended the frame with a kill. The 'Dogs hit .424 in the opening set, with 17 kills in 33 swings.

A kill and a block from Holmquist, along with a pair of Williams kills gave the Bulldogs a 12-10 lead in the second set, but a pair of blocks from Sally Anne Johnson tied it at 13. A Johnson kill put the Lions on top 15-14, but a pair of blocks from sophomore Lynnlee Mather (McDonough, Ga.) gave the Bulldogs an 18-15 lead. Kills from Williams and Mather made it 22-17, while two Holmquist kills gave Wingate a 24-21 lead. A Lauren Hochstetler kill got Mars Hill within one at 24-23, but Bludau ended the set with a kill.

A pair of Abernathy kills, along with a kill from sophomore Phoebe Havenaar (Naperville, Ill.) gave the Bulldogs a 9-3 lead in the third set. Kaeser got the Lions within three with an ace, but back-to-back Havenaar blocks made it 12-6. A kill and a block from Mather gave Wingate a 16-8 advantage, while two Bludau kills along with another kill and block from Mather made it 20-10. Three Abernathy kills put the 'Dogs on top 24-13, while a Havenaar kill ended the match.

Wingate hit .260 on the day, with 51 kills and 17 errors in 131 attacks. Mars Hill had 22 kills and 15 errors in 122 attacks, hitting .057. Mather led the way with six blocks, while senior Rachel Truslow (Matthews, N.C.) had the lone ace for the Bulldogs.

Wingate continues its road trip Thursday, traveling to Lenoir-Rhyne for a 7 p.m. start.