Mars Hill, N.C.----The 24th-ranked Wingate University Bulldogs clinched the outright regular season league title Friday night, sweeping past Mars Hill University in South Atlantic Conference volleyball action. Wingate won by scores of 25-13, 25-21 and 25-20 to improve to 27-1 overall and 20-1 in the SAC, while the Lions fall to 14-14 overall and 11-10 in league play. The Bulldogs have won 13 of the last 14 regular season titles, piling up 24 total league championships since 2006.

THOUGHTS FROM SOPHIE SCHAFF

"It's really an amazing feeling, getting to win the regular season championship with this team. I think it's so awesome how we stepped up to this new challenge after losing five starters, it really shows how determined we are to give our teammates what they need and play for each other every point. It is really rewarding for us to have worked so hard and achieve the goal together."

THOUGHTS FROM MOLLY LAMBILLOTTE

"This season has been an amazing grind. With this new team, we have worked extremely hard to become better every day for each other and it has clearly played off. Winning the regular season championship is a special feeling after the adversity and challenges we have faced all season. I am extremely proud of our team and all of our players for playing so strong and improving all season, and for playing so great together tonight."

KEY STATS

- Wingate hit .258 with 51 kills and 17 errors
- Mars Hill had 26 kills and 18 errors, hitting .069
- The 'Dogs had 67 digs compared to Mars Hill's 55
- The Bulldogs registered seven blocks while the Lions had three
- WU had four of the five aces on the night

KEY BULLDOGS

- Sophie Schaff had 11 kills and two blocks to lead the Wingate offense
- Molly Lambillotte registered a double-double with 10 kills and 16 digs
- Lynnlee Mather hit .333 with nine kills and five blocks
- Reese Blackley had seven kills, four digs and two blocks
- Rachel Alles piled up seven kills, 20 assists, 13 digs and a block
- Shannon Kasprak added 25 assists, seven digs and two aces
- Treslyn Ortiz collected 22 digs

FIRST SET

- Two Lambillotte kills and a Maggie Young kill gave WU an early 9-4 lead
- A kill and a block from Schaff made it 12-6
- Mather's block put the 'Dogs on top 17-8
- Wingate added a 5-0 run, taking a 22-9 lead on two kills and a block from Mather
- A Blackley kill made it 24-12; Alles ended the set with a kill

SECOND SET

- An Eriana Ansley kill gave Mars Hill an 8-5 lead in set two
- Kills from Schaff and Blackley put WU on top 10-9
- Another Ansley kill tied it at 15
- The 'Dogs scored the next four points, getting a Blackley kill and Kasprak ace to go on top 19-15
- A Mather kill and Kasey Eastland ace made it 22-16
- Back-to-back Lambillotte aces made it 24-17; Alles ended it with a kill

THIRD SET

- A kill and a block from Anne Abernathy gave WU an 11-9 lead
- An Ansley block got MHU within one at 16-15
- A Mather kill and Lambillotte ace made it 19-16
- Kills from Blackley and Schaff, followed by a Schaff block put Wingate on top 23-18
- Blackley's kill made it 24-20; Lambillotte ended it with an ace

UP NEXT

- Wingate wraps up the regular season at Lenoir-Rhyne Saturday at 2 p.m.
- The 'Dogs will host a SAC Tournament quarterfinal match next Tuesday at 7 p.m.