Charlotte, N.C.----The Wingate University Bulldogs opened league play in style Friday night, rolling to a 3-0 (25-19, 25-22, 25-20) victory at Queens University in South Atlantic Conference volleyball action. Wingate improves to 8-0 overall and 1-0 in the SAC, while the Royals fall to 5-2 overall and 1-1 in league play.

All-American middle blocker Anna Holmquist led the Wingate offense with 13 kills to go along with two blocks. Senior outside hitter Hannah Givens added 11 kills, while senior middle blocker Phoebe Havenaar contributed eight kills. Junior setter Rachel Alles handed out 40 assists, adding eight digs, three kills and two blocks, while senior libero Kori Adams piled up 30 digs for the Bulldogs. Treslyn Ortiz and Kasey Eastland were also in double figures with 12 and 11 digs, respectively.

"It was fun for our team to open conference play here at Queens," head coach Shelton Collier says. "Our players enjoy playing when there is a big crowd in an opponent's gym and we fed off that energy tonight and played at a high level at times. It was important for us to come away with a road match win to start conference play."

Wingate raced out to an 11-2 lead in the opening set, getting three kills from Taylor Williams. A kill from Jordan Proszenyak got the Royals within three at 12-9, but a pair of Givens kills pushed the lead back to six at 15-9. A Casey Tarvin got Queens back within three at 18-15, but the 'Dogs countered with a 3-0 run, getting a kill and a block from Holmquist and a Havenaar kill to take a 21-15 advantage. A kill from Alles made it 24-19, while a Queens error ended the opening set.

Kills from Holmquist and Givens, along with an Adams ace gave Wingate a 14-10 advantage in set two. Proszenyak tied it at 16 with a kill, then put the Royals on top 18-17 with another kill. A pair of Queens errors and a Givens kill gave the 'Dogs a 22-20 lead, but a kill and an ace from Tarvin tied it at 22. A Queens error and Havenaar block gave Wingate a 24-22 advantage, while a Sophie Schaff kill ended the set.

An ace from Givens gave the Bulldogs a 7-2 lead in the third frame, but back-to-back Wingate errors got Queens within one. Wingate scored the next four points, taking a 13-8 lead on back-to-back Holmquist kills. Two Givens kills and a Havenaar kill pushed the lead to seven at 17-10. Kills from Holmquist and Givens, followed by a Havenaar block made it 23-17. A kill from Givens gave the 'Dogs a 24-20 advantage, while a Queens error ended the match.

The Bulldogs hit .187 on the match, with 46 kills and 21 errors in 134 attacks. Queens had 33 kills and 18 errors 130 attacks to hit .115. Adams had two of Wingate's four aces, while Holmquist and Alles led the way with two blocks apiece.

The Bulldogs are back in action Tuesday, traveling to Catawba for a 7 p.m. match.