Hickory, N.C.----The Wingate University Bulldogs are now the only SAC team without a loss in league play after prevailing 3-0 at Lenoir-Rhyne University Thursday night in South Atlantic Conference volleyball action. Wingate won by scores of 25-20, 25-19 and 25-21 to improve to 12-0 overall and 7-0 in league play. The Bears fall to 7-3 overall and 3-1 in the SAC.

Senior outside hitter Katie Bludau (Seabrook, Texas) piled up 15 kills to lead the Wingate attack, adding five digs and an ace. Sophomore setter Rachel Alles (Tinley Park, Ill.) compiled eight kills, 31 assists, four digs and two blocks for the Bulldogs. Juniors Anna Holmquist (Lincoln, Nebr.) and Oakley Attaway (Orlando, Fla.), along with sophomore Phoebe Havenaar (Naperville, Ill.) and freshman Anne Abernathy (Knoxville, Tenn.) added five kills apiece. Junior Kori Adams (Ayden, N.C.) collected 15 digs, while junior Kimberly Hovey (Raleigh, N.C.) chipped in with 10 digs.

"Our players are well-aware that every match is important for us," head coach Shelton Collier says. "They also appreciate the fact that when first place is on the line and we are playing an opponent who is also undefeated in the conference, in their gym, an extra effort is required. We were particularly well-prepared for this match and it was great to see our team step up. Tonight our serving, block and defense won it for us, as our hitting efficiency was not as strong as usual. Once again Katie Bludau was very impressive in leading us. To win 3-0 tonight after losing here the last two years was very rewarding for our team."

Madison Asher and Brooke Redmond had eight kills each to lead the Lenoir-Rhyne offense. Taylor Prall contributed six kills, while Hannah Houston added four kills. Anna Smith handed out 16 assists, while Ashley Markland collected 15 digs.

A Prall kill and Jaclyn Denny block gave the Bears an 11-6 lead in the first set, but a Bludau ace and kills from Abernathy and Havenaar got the 'Dogs within one at 14-13. A Prall kill pushed the LRU lead back to three, but Wingate scored the next four points to take the lead. Abernathy and Attaway contributed kills in the flurry. Kills from Holmquist and Alles gave the Bulldogs a 20-17 advantage, while kills from Bludau and Holmquist made it 23-18. Another Holmquist kill made it 24-20, while a block from Alles and Havenaar ended the set.

Lenoir-Rhyne jumped out to a 5-2 lead in set two, but a Bludau block helped Wingate take a 7-6 advantage. The Bulldogs used a 7-0 run to take a 17-10 lead, getting three Bludau kills in the spurt. An Emily Steele block got the Bears within five at 19-14, but kills from Bludau and Attaway made it 21-14. An Abernathy kill and LRU error gave Wingate a 24-17 lead, while another Lenoir-Rhyne error ended the frame.

Back-to-back kills from Bludau gave the Bulldogs a 7-4 lead in the third set, but a Wingate error got the Bears within one at 9-8. A Holmquist kill help the 'Dogs extend the lead to three at 12-9, but LRU again got within one on a Wingate error. A Bludau kill, along with a kill and a block from Alles put the Bulldogs on top 17-13, while Havenaar's kill pushed the lead to five. A Bludau kill made it 20-15, but a pair of Wingate errors got Lenoir-Rhyne within three. A kill and an ace from Havenaar made it 22-18, while Holmquist's block pushed the advantage back to five at 23-18. Bludau ended the match with her 15th kill.

Wingate hit .167 on the night, with 44 kills and 24 errors in 120 attacks. Lenoir-Rhyne had 29 kills and 12 errors in 103 attacks, hitting .165. Havenaar had two of Wingate's three aces, while Alles and Havenaar led the 'Dogs with two blocks each.

The Bulldogs wrap up a four-match road trip Saturday, traveling to Catawba for a 2 p.m. start. Wingate returns home next Friday, hosting Carson-Newman at 7 p.m.