Box Score VIDEO | Press Conference (Collier, Kasprak, Lambillotte)
Wingate, N.C.----The top-seeded and 25th-ranked Wingate University Bulldogs swept past sixth-seeded Flagler College Sunday afternoon to claim the 2022 NCAA Southeast Regional championship. Wingate won by scores of 25-14, 25-13 and 25-23 to improve to 32-2 overall, advancing to the NCAA National Quarterfinals in Seattle, Wash. Dec. 1-3. The Saints end their season at 20-10.
THOUGHTS FROM HEAD COACH SHELTON COLLIER
"I am so proud of this team for so many reasons. We grinded through this regional championship with so many players making major contributions. We played consistently impressive high-level volleyball in the championship match today. As we have done all year, we had a great mix of veteran leadership combined with some awesome play from our younger players. Today's win was a culmination of a season of hard work and progress by our players, and we have now earned a trip to Seattle to play in the big show. I am so happy for our players, they are a really enjoyable, motivated group, and today, in our gym, with our fans, we were able to celebrate this victory on our home court. As I am especially proud of this team, I also am so appreciative of so many Wingate players that have won so many championships over so many years here. This year's team inherited that legacy and kept it going in their own way with three championships, which is very rewarding. We also are so thankful for the amazing support staff here, and what a first class job they all did for us all season and with hosting this NCAA Regional Championship here at Wingate."
KEY STATS
- Wingate had 37 kills and eight errors in 89 attacks, hitting .326
- Flagler had 26 kills and 24 errors in 88 swings to hit .023
- The Saints held a 38-36 advantage in digs
- The 'Dogs piled up 12 of the 16 blocks on the day
- Wingate had 10 of the 16 aces
- The Bulldogs hit .353 in set one and .429 in the second
- Flagler hit .042 in set one and -.129 in the second
KEY BULLDOGS
- Maggie Young had eight kills in 11 swings, hitting .727 with three blocks
- Gabby Saye had eight kills in 17 swings, hitting .412 with three blocks
- Victoria Wilform added seven kills and three blocks, hitting .312
- Emily Johnson contributed six kills, six digs, six blocks and two aces
- Molly Lambillotte added five kills, five digs, two blocks and three aces
- Shannon Kasprak had 34 assists, five digs, three blocks, two aces and a kill
- Maggie Mullen contributed 10 digs and two aces
NOTES
- Sixth Region title in program history
- Wingate is making its 17th straight NCAA Tournament appearance
- Fifth time the Bulldogs have won the regional in Cuddy Arena
- The 'Dogs are 21-4 in Cuddy Arena in regional play
- This is the ninth time the Bulldogs have earned regional hosting duties
- Wingate is now 27-17 all-time in NCAA Tournament play
- This is the 12th time the Bulldogs have won at least 30 matches in a season
- First region title since 2018
- The Bulldogs have played in the regional title match nine times since the 2009 season
- WU also has region titles in 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2018
- Wingate's six championships are the most in the region; Flagler is second with three
- This is the fifth time Wingate and Flagler have played in the region title match and fourth time in Cuddy
- The teams have now met six times in regional play, with teach team winning three times
- Wingate had five players earn All-Tourney honors
- Kasprak, Mullen, Young, Lambillotte and Johnson earned All-Tourney accolades
FIRST SET
- Kills from Lambillotte and Stacherski gave Wingate a 7-4 lead
- A Cecilia Robert kill cut the lead to one
- Three straight Lambillotte aces gave the 'Dogs an 11-6 advantage
- A Saye kill and Kasprak block, along with a Maddie Hoffman ace made it 15-8
- Kills from Johnson and Lambillotte, along with Kasprak ace made it 21-12
- Young's kill made it 24-14; Mullen ended it with an ace
SECOND SET
- Wingate scored seven straight to take an 11-3 lead in the second
- Saye and Johnson started the spurt with kills; Wilform capped it with back-to-back kills
- WU added another 6-0 run, getting a kill and a block from Young along with two Johnson aces
- A Young kill and Kasprak ace made it 20-8
- Kills from Young and Saye made it 24-11; Saye's kill ended it
THIRD SET
- The final frame featured nine ties and four lead changes
- A Wilform kill and Kasprak block gave the 'Dogs a 7-5 lead
- A Cameron Fenner ace and Logan Garcia block put the Saints on top 12-11
- The 'Dogs scored six of the next seven, taking a 17-13 lead
- Young and Saye each had a kill and a block in the flurry
- Molly boyd capped a 4-0 Flagler run with a block to tie it at 18
- Two Johnson kills and a Lambillotte kill put Wingate on top 21-19
- Garcia's kill made it 22-21, but a Flagler error made it 23-21
- Kills from Roberts and Kennedy Muff tied it at 23
- Wilform's kill put the Bulldogs on top 24-23 to set up championship point
- Saye and Johnson teamed for the block to end it
UP NEXT
- Wingate is onto the NCAA National Quarterfinals in Seattle, Wash.
- The eight-team event gets underway Dec. 1 as part of the Fall Festival
- The seeds for the tournament will be announced this week
