VIDEO | Lauren Tekavec Interview
VIDEO | Maddie Hoffman Interview

Wingate, N.C.----The Defending South Atlantic Conference regular season champion Wingate University Bulldogs open the 2024 season this weekend, traveling to South Carolina to play four matches in the Coker Cobra Classic Friday and Saturday. The Bulldogs went 28-4 overall in 2023, with a 17-1 mark in league play to capture their 17th regular season SAC title in the last 18 years. Wingate advanced to the SAC Tournament championship match and earned hosting duties at the NCAA Southeast Regionals for the 10th time in the last 15 years.

The Bulldogs are no strangers to success, piling up 30 total league championships over the past 18 years to go along with six region titles. Wingate is the preseason SAC favorite for the 19th straight season. The Bulldogs are 493-51 overall since the start of the 2007 season, going 295-19 in league play. Wingate has ranked in the top 10 nationally in winning percentage 17 times over the last 18 seasons and is still the only team in SAC history to earn an AVCA top 25 ranking. Wingate leads the SAC and the Southeast Region in All-Americans, with at least one player earning AVCA All-American recognition in each of the last 16 seasons. The 'Dogs have the only AVCA first team All-American in league history, and the only four AVCA second team honorees. The 'Dogs have had 18 different honorees earn either first, second, or third team accolades, with numerous others picking up honorable mention recognition.

The preseason favorites have plenty of firepower returning, with four preseason All-SAC honorees including a pair of 2023 AVCA honorable mention All-Americans. The group of returners is joined by 10 newcomers, with seven freshmen and three transfers. "Preseason has been really solid," second-year head coach Lauren Tekavec says. "We have a great group of returners as well as a good mix of fresh, young energy and some talented new players.

The Bulldogs will turn to a different group of leaders this year, after losing five seniors from last year's championship squad. The team captains will be Lorna Stacherski, Maddie Hoffman, Gabby Saye and Taylor Robertson. "Those four have multiple years of playing and competing in a competitive, high-stakes environment and being successful," Tekavec says. "They learned a lot from past leaders like Maggie, Molly and Shannon. They can use what they've learned to pass on expectations and standards of our winning culture."

As a team that has more conference titles than conference losses over the last 18 years and that has twice as many region titles as any other school in the region, the Bulldogs have high expectations once again in 2024. "We try not to get too consumed by the noise and the records and expectations," Tekavec says. "We focus on one game at a time, all we talk about now is beating Belmont Abbey Friday."  

SETTERS

The Bulldogs return both setters from last year's successful 6-2 offense that ranked fourth nationally in hitting percentage, fifth in kills per set and sixth in assists per set. Senior Katie Jamerson handed out 5.64 assists per set, while picking up 2.48 digs per set to go along with 29 aces and 23 kills. Maya Van Heyst earned a spot on the All-SAC Freshman team, registering 5.62 assists and 1.92 digs per set, adding 22 aces and 22 kills. The Bulldogs have also added USC Upstate transfer Emma McElveen.

"Katie is starting her senior year setting better than ever," Tekavec says. "She has really developed into a high-IQ, deceptive setter who is also playing outstanding defense. Maya is one of the most athletic competitors I've ever coached. She does some things that are unteachable and just come so naturally to her. She has a great presence on the court and loves playing the game of volleyball every day. Emma is a D1 transfer that brings a lot of experience. She is extremely competitive and raises the level of play in our gym and her determination and hard-working mindset."

MIDDLE BLOCKERS

Despite losing 2023 SAC and Region Player of the Year Maggie Young, the Bulldogs are still loaded in the middle. Emily Johnson was the 2022 AVCA Region Freshman of the Year and a D2CCA second team All-American, while backing that up with All-SAC, All-Region and AVCA honorable mention All-American accolades in 2023. She hit .340 with 2.15 kills per set, while piling up 119 blocks to register 1.06 blocks per set. Sydney Morland moves over from the right side to the middle after earning All-SAC Freshman accolades in 2023, hitting .354 with 1.86 kills per set, adding 0.47 blocks per set. The duo is joined by freshmen Grace Woodring and Carson Reeves.

"Emily is coming off a fabulous two-year campaign where she's hit for a very high percentage every year," Tekavec says. "Somehow she still keeps getting better from her awesome first two years. She's high-IQ, low error, and still very terminal. She brings a new level of blocking to the team, while also bringing a calm leadership to the court. Sydney as a freshman last year played out of position and was still successful, making the all-freshman team. With the loss of Maggie, she has moved back into her true position as a middle blocker and is one of the most terminal hitters in the country. Grace is a great addition. She is undersized but is very quick, smart and has great vision. Carson has incredible reach and challenges our hitters to be smart with her blocking abilities. She has the potential to be a very good middle blocker, and has two great mentors in Emily and Sydney, who help her get better every day."

LEFT-SIDE HITTERS

The left-side position will be anchored by fifth-year senior Lorna Stacherski, along with graduate student transfers Elsa Lamphere and Zelasia Edwards. Sophomore Alanna Vavao will also step into a bigger role, with freshman Abby Mas looking to contribute in her first season as well. Stacherski piled up 243 kills last year, averaging 2.19 kills per set with a .237 hitting percentage while also notching 114 digs and 60 blocks. Lamphere piled up 243 kills at Angelo State last season in the highly-regarded Lone Star Conference. Edwards averaged 2.24 kills per set at USC Upstate last year, adding 2.49 digs per set. Vavao appeared in 14 matches during her freshman season at Wingate, notching 13 kills on the year.

"Lorna is playing her fifth year, and every year she adds a position and skill to her repertoire," Tekavec says. "Originally a right-side and a terminal back-row attacker for us in 2022, she moved to the left side last year and has found some comfort. She has worked hard on becoming consistent passer and terminal in the front row. She's a strong blocker and adds another dynamic to both offense and defense. Elsa is a transfer from Angelo State where she was an all-conference player in a tough league, playing top-10 teams on a regular basis. She is extremely terminal out of system, a smart hitter, has lots of shots, and is an all-around great addition to the team. We have started calling her the eraser, because even on bad passes or average sets, she figures out a way to get points, erasing other people's mistakes. Zelasia is a high-level all-around player who does every skill consistently. She is a great server, consistent passer, hard-working defender and a high-IQ attacker. She brings extreme competitiveness and a vibe to our gym. Playing with her is extremely fun, and she has the best celebrations. Alanna is a powerful, aggressive and physical attacker. She is an awesome addition to our gym and has worked extremely hard to get more consistent and to be a very good passer as well. Abby is a freshman who has an extreme amount of potential to be a very good outside hitter in the SAC. She is terminal in system and a smart, high-level player out of system. She has gotten better every day of the preseason. It will be fun to watch her grow over the next four years. Taylor Robertson is working back from her season-ending injury last year. She has been great, she's a captain, leader and mentor. We are excited to get her back healthy and ready to play."

RIGHTSIDE HITTERS

The right side is anchored by All-SAC, All-Region and honorable mention All-American Gabby Saye. The junior led the Bulldogs with 313 kills last year, averaging 2.75 kills per set while hitting .341 on the year, adding 74 digs and 59 blocks. Saye was the only player in the region to average at least 2.7 kills per set and hit over .340. She will be joined on the right side by Van Heyst, along with newcomers Jordan Griffin and Nathalia Rodriquez.

"Gabby is the most feared right-side hitter in the conference," Tekavec says. "She is the number one hitter on the scouting report because she is so terminal and she not only manages out of system, but can terminate out of system. She is a physical and strong blocker, disciplined defender and all-around stud. Maya has one of the most fun arms I've coached. She has an absolute pop and hammer, and has the ability to use the block to get kills. She has been extremely efficient and adds a fun dynamic to our offense. Jordan absolutely flies. It's so fun to watch her play. She is competitive, aggressive, and is just a good all-around player. Nathalia is a joy to coach, brings a smile to everyone's face in the gym. She is a really strong blocker, has a great setup and is physical on the net. She's a strong hitter who works every day to get more shots and take care of out of system balls."

LIBEROS

Junior Maddie Hoffman will move into the libero role this year after spending her first two seasons at Wingate as the defensive specialist behind All-SAC libero Maggie Mullen. She is joined by freshmen Hailey Green and Maggie Fillauer.

"Maddie is our on-court leader, the toughest critic in our gym, our loudest voice and the glue that holds us all together," Tekavec says. "She brings consistency and balance in serve receive, and is inspiring on defense every day. Hailey has one of the most natural first touches I've ever seen. Her platform is completely controlled, and she has a natural feel to the ball. She's extremely fast and makes hard plays look easy. A tough server and a fun defender and someone to keep your eye on. Maggie is an absolute vibe on the court. She makes incredible plays daily, is a great vocal leader even as a freshman, and she passes and defends at a high level. She brings tons of energy and competitiveness to our gym, and its fun to see someone that young compete at this level and push our hitters to be better every day."

SCHEDULE

The Bulldogs will open the 2024 season with eight straight matches outside of Cuddy Arena, starting this weekend with four matches in South Carolina at the Coker Cobra Classic. Wingate will face Belmont Abbey Friday at 12:15 p.m., then take on Francis Marion at 4:45 p.m. The 'Dogs wrap up opening weekend Saturday against West Virginia Wesleyan at 10 a.m. and USC Aiken at 4:45 p.m. The following weekend, the 'Dogs travel to Florida for the Outback Invitational, which starts with a match at #20 West Florida. The 'Dogs will also face a Northwest Missouri State team that is receiving votes in the preseason poll. Wingate's first home match will be Sept. 17, hosting Catawba at 7 p.m. in the SAC opener.