VIDEO | Sophie Schaff & Reese Blackley Interview

Wingate, N.C.----The Wingate University Bulldogs open the 2021 season this weekend, traveling to Charlotte to play four matches in the Queens Invitational. Wingate faces Lees-McRae and Young Harris Friday, then takes on Chowan and Lander on Saturday. The Bulldogs have piled up 26 SAC titles since the 2006 season, collecting 14 of the last 15 regular season championships to go along with 12 SAC Tournament titles.

The Bulldogs made their league-record 15th consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament in 2019, earning hosting duties at the NCAA Southeast Regionals for the eighth time in 12 years. The Bulldogs have won five NCAA Southeast regional championships since the 2010 season. Wingate won the regular season SAC title in 2019, then won the abbreviated championship in the spring of 2021, while adding another SAC Tourney title. The 'Dogs are the preseason SAC favorites for the 16th straight season.

Prior to the abbreviated spring season in 2021 that saw the 'Dogs go 11-1 overall and have a successful experience at the AVCA National Championships, Wingate went 30-3 in 2019, capturing the regular season SAC title. The 'Dogs finished third in the nation in winning percentage, cracking the top 10 in the category for the 13th straight season. It was the 10th time since 2013 the 'Dogs won at least 30 matches in a season. The Bulldogs are 418-39 overall since the start of the 2007 season, going 246-14 in league play.

"I was really impressed with how well our players navigated the challenges of the previous year with all the COVID restrictions and uncertainty, and I have appreciated their motivation, enthusiasm and determination," head coach Shelton Collier says. "We played well and made significant progress in the modified spring season and were proud of winning another SAC tournament championship and then playing so well in the AVCA National Tournament in Dallas in April. I truly believe that this year there is more talent and experience in our conference than any other year in history, so we are well-aware we will need to battle each week in order for us to achieve our goals."

The Bulldogs have plenty of experience and firepower returning from the spring championship season. Wingate has seven seniors on this year's squad, along with three juniors, giving the Bulldogs plenty of solid leadership. "Our on-court leader is Shannon Kasprak, who has been impressive with running our team as our setter, leading by example, and being a vocal leader," Collier says. "Our three captains, Molly Lambillotte, Maggie Young and Sophie Schaff all returned in great physical shape and are playing better than ever at each of their positions, which is very encouraging and a sign of great leadership."

"Each year obviously has a new team due to graduations, and in many cases, the graduation of All-American players," Collier says. "This year we will be relying on an ensemble cast of players who will really need to work well together to have success. This group will need to establish a successful recipe that works for them in each match, and we will certainly be counting on a number of players to step up and play at a high level."

OUTSIDE HITTER

The seniors Lambillotte and Reese Blackley will be key outside hitters for the Bulldogs, along with the senior Marianna Warren and junior Emma Ahrens.

"Reese and Molly return as experienced starters from last season," Collier says. "Reese has made significant strides and has established herself as our top left-side hitter. Molly is a highly-skilled player and will be leading us both at the net and in the backcourt. Marianna is still recovering from several injuries and we hope she will provide a spark with her jump serve as well as with her attacking. Emma was our most improved player last fall season and has been a factor as well."

Blackley earned second team All-SAC honors in the spring, and was named the Female Breakthrough Athlete of the Year at the 2021 WUSPYS. She led the 'Dogs and ranked in the top 10 in the SAC with 3.14 kills per set in the spring, notching double-digit kills in five of 11 matches. Lambillotte contributed 2.32 kills per set while hitting a career-best .245 in the spring, ranking second on the squad with 3.11 digs per set to go along with 0.45 blocks per set. Warren was second on the team with 2.66 kills per set before her season-ending injury in the 2019 season, while ranking in the top five nationally with 0.68 aces per set. Ahrens contributed 1.50 kills per set with a .375 hitting percentage in the spring.

MIDDLE BLOCKER

The middle blocker position features a pair of preseason All-SAC honorees in Schaff and Young, two of the most efficient hitters in the league. Quin Sutphin is in her first full season with the 'Dogs after joining the squad in the spring after transferring from Kennesaw State, while sophomore Rayah Givens also looks to add depth to the strong middle blocker position.

"Sophie hit .271 in the spring, playing both as a middle hitter and right-side hitter in the spring," Collier says. "Young again proved to be an effective attacker hitting .319. Both are preseason All-SAC selections. Quin was cleared to play at the end of the spring season after recovering from knee surgery, and was a key performer in the Sac Championship match and it the AVCA National Tournament."

Schaff led the Bulldogs with 3.19 kills per set in 2019, hitting .296 while piling up 1.13 blocks per set, earning first team All-SAC and All-Region honors while adding honorable mention All-American accolades. Young hit .322 with 1.53 kills per set in her first season at Wingate, while piling up 1.12 blocks per set, ranking in the top five in the SAC in blocks and hitting percentage. Sutphin set the Kennesaw State single-season record by hitting .349 in 2019, earning first team all-conference honors while also picking up honorable mention All-Region accolades from the AVCA. She led the team in blocks and hitting percentage while ranking second with 342 total kills. Givens contributed a kill per set in her three matches played in the spring, hitting .500.

RIGHT-SIDE HITTER

The right-side hitter spot will be shared among three players in Sutphin, Schaff and sophomore Lorna Stacherski. All three have unique styles that can add firepower to this important position. Stacherski had a solid spring season in her first year at Wingate, while Schaff is an established high level right-side attacker in addition to her duties as the team's top middle hitter. Collier also plans to utilize Sutphin as a right-side hitter, another player who has shown the ability to contribute in multiple spots.

"We will have several lineups featuring different right-side hitters, "Collier says. "Lorna returns after several impressive performances this past spring, hitting .295 and earning All-SAC Freshman honors."

Stacherski registered 27 kills in her 10 matches as a freshman in the spring, registering back-to-back six-kill efforts in wins over Catawba and Coker, hitting over .420 in both contests.

SETTER

The reigning SAC Player of the Year Kasprak will run the show for the Bulldogs, following an impressive spring season.

"Shannon will be running our team as our starting setter, and she has improved tremendously," Collier says. "Shannon is strong and dynamic and has proven she can be a high-level setter. Freshman Katie Jamerson has also shown the ability to be able to run the team as a competitive and influential setter."

Kasprak is another preseason All-SAC honoree, handing out a league-best 10.89 assists per set in the spring while running an offense that led the SAC in kills per set and hitting percentage, ranking in the top five nationally in both categories. Kasprak added 3.03 digs per set to go along with 51 kills, 15 blocks and seven aces. She registered a double-double in five of her 12 matches on the season

DEFENSIVE SPECIALIST

Wingate has always been strong defensively and 2019 was no different, with the Bulldogs leading the nation in opponents' hitting percentage. This year's defense will have plenty of experience, led by sophomore Kari Bogen, senior Kasey Eastland, junior Maggie Mullen, and sophomore Taryn Pryce.

"Our defense appears to be the strength of this year's team," Collier says. "These defensive specialists are all playing at a high level, along with Lambillotte and Kasprak, who also play great defense."

SCHEDULE

The Bulldogs took a preseason trip to Tampa in August, playing exhibition matches against Eckerd College and the University of Tampa. Tampa will be the host of the NCAA DII national championship. Wingate opens play this weekend with four matches in Charlotte, then jumps into league play next Tuesday at Coker at 7 p.m. Wingate's first home match is Saturday, Sept. 11, hosting Tusculum at 2 p.m. The Bulldogs step out of league play late in the season to face Flagler College, a match that has served as the Southeast Region title match on several occasions. The teams met in the AVCA National Championships in April, with the 'Dogs prevailing 3-0.

"We have an experienced team with players who have won championships and who have played well in national tournaments," Collier says. "We will need to rely on this experience as we work through what will be a really tough conference schedule, with very challenging matches both at home and on the road. There are several teams who have their entire starting teams back, so the league will be tougher than ever before for sure."

WINGATE UNIVERSITY
 
Founded in 1896, Wingate University is a laboratory of difference-making that serves more than 3,600 students in North Carolina. Wingate offers 37 undergraduate majors as well as eight master's and five doctoral degrees. The University is home to the Cannon College of Arts and Sciences; the Levine College of Health Sciences; the Byrum School of Business; and the College of Professional Studies, which includes the Thayer School of Education and the School of Sport Sciences.
 
Wingate is a leader in healthcare education, and nearly one in five Wingate undergraduate students is preparing to be a pharmacist, physician assistant, physical therapist, occupational therapist or nurse. Student-athletes on Wingate's 23 teams compete in NCAA Division II and have brought home the SAC Echols Athletic Excellence Award for 13 years straight. The University's motto is "Faith, Knowledge, Service." View current news and videos at www.wingate.edu.