Video | Press Conference (Collier, Wilform & Saye)
 
Seattle, Wash.----The sixth-seeded and 25th-ranked Wingate University Bulldogs saw their season come to an end in heart breaking fashion Thursday afternoon, falling 3-2 against third-seeded and ninth-ranked West Texas A&M in the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division II women's volleyball national championships. The Lady Buffs prevailed 25-23, 23-25, 25-19, 22-25 and 15-12 to improve to 31-4 overall and advance to the national semifinals, while the Bulldogs end their season at 32-3.

KEY STATS

- West Texas A&M had 68 kills and 26 errors in 171 attacks, hitting .246
- Wingate had 61 kills and 25 errors in 181 swings to hit .199
- The Lady Buffs held a 78-68 advantage in digs
- The Bulldogs held a 14-9 edge in blocks
- A&M had seven of the 13 aces on the day

KEY BULLDOGS

- Gabby Saye had 17 kills in 31 swings, hitting .452 while adding four blocks
- Victoria Wilform hit .279 with 17 kills and five blocks
- Emily Johnson contributed eight kills and three blocks
- Maggie Young and Lorna Stacherski added six kills apiece for the Bulldogs
- Molly Lambillotte had four kills and 15 digs
- Shannon Kasprak had 48 assists, 15 digs, three kills and three blocks
- Maggie Mullen picked up 18 digs

NOTES

- The 'Dogs were making their 18th NCAA Tournament appearance and 17th in a row
- Sixth time the Bulldogs have played in the national quarterfinals
- First team in SAC history to push a quarterfinal match to five sets
- The Bulldogs made their first quarterfinal appearance in 2010, returning in 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2018
- Wingate is now 27-18 all-time in NCAA Tourney play
- 13th season in program history with at least 30 wins
- The 'Dogs lead the SAC in appearances, wins and region titles
- 20th double-double of the year and 54th career for Kasprak
- Career-high 17 kills for Saye; eighth double-digit kill effort for the freshman
- WU career-high 17 kills for Wilform; third double-digit kill performance

FIRST SET

- WU raced out to a 7-1 lead, getting two kills and a block from Johnson along with two Wilform kills
- The Lady Buffs used a 9-0 run to take a 13-10 lead, getting three Bryli Contreras aces
- Two Wilform kills, followed by a kill and a block from Saye cut the lead to one at 16-15
- Wilform's block tied it at 19
- Another Contreras ace capped a 3-0 run that put A&M on top 22-19
- A Young block, followed by kills from Lambillotte and Saye tied it at 22
- A Kayla Elliott kill gave the Lady Buffs a 24-22 lead, but a Saye kill cut the lead to one
- An Elliott block ended the first set

SECOND SET

- A 5-1 run, highlighted by two kills and a block from Wilform put WU on top 9-7
- A Torrey Miller kill gave the Lady Buffs a 12-11 advantage
- Stacherski's kill gave Wingate a 14-13 lead, but an Abi Nash kill gave A&M a 15-14 edge
- The 'Dogs answered with four straight, getting kills from Stacherski, Kasprak and Wilform to go on top 18-15
- A Miller kill tied it at 20, but a Lambillotte kill put Wingate back on top
- Miller's kill tied it at 21, but a Saye kill and Maddie Hoffman ace gave the Bulldogs a 23-21 lead
- A Miller kill and Taytum Stow blocked tied it at 23
- Johnson's kill gave Wingate a 24-23 edge; Lambillotte ended it with an ace

THIRD SET

- Back-to-back Emma Becker kills gave A&M a 9-6 advantage
- Kills from Johnson and Kasprak trimmed the lead to two at 11-9
- Back-to-back Miller kills pushed the lead to five
- Kills from Young and Saye pulled Wingate within two at 15-13
- A&M scored four straight, taking a 24-17 lead on an Elliott kill
- A Nash kill ended the frame

FOURTH SET

- A pair of Stacherski kills gave Wingate a 6-2 lead in the fourth frame
- A Nash kill tied it at seven
- A Mullen ace and Saye kill made it 10-8, but an Elliott kill cut the lead to one
- WU scored the next five, taking a 15-9 lead on a Wilform block
- Kills from Wilform and Saye, along with a Kasprak ace made it 19-11
- Kills from Young and Saye made it 21-14
- Elliott's kill pulled the Lady Buffs within four, but a Kasprak kill made it 23-18
- A Miller kill cut the lead to two at 24-22
- Young and Kasprak teamed for a block to end the set and send it to a fifth frame

FIFTH SET

- Saye and Young had two blocks each, while a Saye kill made it 5-1 early
- Young's kill put the Bulldogs on top 6-2
- Four straight Wingate errors tied it at seven
- A Saye block and Johnson kill gave the Bulldogs a 9-7 lead
- A&M scored the next four, taking an 11-9 advantage on a Miller kill
- Johnson's kill cut the lead to one at 12-11
- Kills from Becker and Nash made it 14-11
- Wilform's kill cut the lead to two
- An Elliott kill ended the match