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Indianapolis, Ind.----For a SAC-record 16th consecutive season, the Wingate University Bulldogs have earned a bid to the NCAA Division II volleyball tournament. Wingate is the number four seed in the NCAA Southeast Region, and will face fifth-seeded Flagler in the opening round Thursday, Dec. 2. The NCAA Southeast Regional will be hosted by Anderson University in Anderson, S.C. The Bulldogs enter the NCAA Tournament at 23-4 overall, after going 15-3 in league play.

Lenoir-Rhyne is the number one seed after winning the SAC Tournament title Saturday. Anderson is number two and will serve as the host, followed by Tusculum, Wingate and Flagler. Augusta checks in at number six, with Mars Hill and Francis Marion rounding out the regional. The winner of the Wingate-Flagler match will face the LR-FMU winner in the semifinals. The Tusculum-Mars Hill winner will take on the Anderson-Augusta winner in the other semifinal match. The regionals will take place over the course of three days in Anderson. The winner advances to the NCAA National Quarterfinals in Tampa, Fla.

Wingate is making its league-best 17th appearance in the NCAA Tournament. This marks the 16th consecutive year the Bulldogs have earned a bid, another SAC record. Wingate is 23-16 in the NCAA Tournament, winning region titles in 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2018. The 'Dogs have made five trips to the NCAA National Quarterfinals, with the rest of the conference earning a combined two trips. Wingate has played in the region title match eight of the last 11 seasons.

The Bulldogs have gotten it done on offense and defense this season, leading the region in SAC in kills per set and assists per set, while ranking second in hitting percentage. The 'Dogs also lead the SAC and rank fifth nationally in opponents' hitting percentage. Wingate is the league-leader in blocks per set as well.

The Bulldogs had three players earn All-SAC honors in 2021, led by first team selections Shannon Kasprak and Sophie Schaff, with Maggie Young earning second team accolades. Kasprak is the only player in the league with over 10.0 assists and 3.0 digs per set, adding nearly one kill per set. Schaff leads the SAC in blocks per set, ranking in the top 10 in the conference in hitting percentage and kills per set. Young is the SAC leader in hitting percentage.

The balanced Bulldog offense has plenty of firepower, with five players compiling over 150 kills on the season. Quin Sutphin averages 2.44 kills per set, adding 0.69 blocks per set. Molly Lambillotte contributes 2.2 kills 2.98 digs per set, notching double-doubles in five of her last six matches. Reese Blackley is averaging 2.01 kills per set.

Taryn Pryce leads the Bulldogs with 382 digs on the year, averaging 3.94 digs per set. Maggie Mullen is contributing 2.67 digs per set, with Kasey Eastland adding 1.66 digs per set.

The Bulldogs have enjoyed incredible success for over a decade, going 440-41 overall since the start of the 2007 season. Wingate is 260-17 in league play during that span, winning 27 total league championships to go along with five region titles. The 'Dogs have ranked in the top 10 nationally in winning percentage each of the last 12 seasons, leading the nation four times including 2018.

NCAA Southeast Regional Volleyball Tournament
Anderson, S.C. (Anderson University)

Quarterfinals
#4 Wingate vs. #5 Flagler
#1 Lenoir-Rhyne vs. #8 Francis Marion
#2 Anderson vs. #7 Mars Hill
#3 Tusculum vs. #6 Augusta

Semifinals
WU-FC Winner vs. LR-FMU Winner
AU-MHU Winner vs. TU-AUG Winner

Finals
Semifinal Winners