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Sioux Falls, S.D.----The 14th-ranked Wingate University Bulldogs are the number five seed at the NCAA Division II National Championships this week in Sioux Falls, S.D. The 'Dogs will take on fourth-seeded and 10th-ranked MSU Denver Thursday, Dec. 11 at 5:30 p.m. ET in the national quarterfinals. Wingate enters the national quarterfinals riding a 30-match winning streak, compiling a 31-1 overall record after going 18-0 in SAC play. Wingate won the SAC regular season and tournament titles, adding an NCAA Southeast Region championship. MSU Denver has won 20 straight, going 29-3 overall with a 13-1 record in the RMAC. Wingate has the second-longest win streak in D2 volleyball, while the Roadrunners have the fourth-longest streak. Fans can watch the match on ESPN Plus.

NCAA National Quarterfinals
#14 Wingate (31-1; 18-0 SAC) vs. #10 MSU Denver (29-3; 13-1 RMAC)
Thursday, Dec. 11 | 5:30 p.m. | Sioux Falls, S.D. (Sanford Pentagon)
Championship Central | Watch on ESPN+ | Live Stats | Bracket

WINGATE HISTORY

- The 'Dogs are the number five seed in the national quarterfinals for the second straight year
- Wingate is ranked #14 in the most recent AVCA top 25 poll
- The Bulldogs are riding a 30-match winning streak
- The 'Dogs have won 51 of their last 55 sets entering the quarterfinals
- WU swept through the SAC Tourney for the second straight year
- This will be the eighth national quarterfinal appearance for Wingate
- Other seven appearances: 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2018, 2022, 2024
- The Bulldogs dropped a tight 3-2 match against eventual national champion West Texas A&M in 2022
- The 'Dogs fell to eventual national champion Lynn in the 2024 national quarterfinals
- Wingate has won eight region titles, all coming since 2010
- Seven of the eight region titles have come at home
- The 2010 season was the first national quarterfinal appearance in WU history
- The Bulldogs are looking to make their first-ever semifinal trip
- The 'Dogs are making their 20th consecutive NCAA Tourney appearance
- Wingate has played in the region title match 11 times, winning eight of those matches
- WU has hosted the Southeast Regionals four straight years and 12 times in 17 years since realignment
- The Bulldogs have won 19 of the last 20 regular season SAC titles and 15 of 20 tourney titles
- The Bulldogs are 555-55 overall since the start of the 2007 season, going 330-20 in league play
- The 'Dogs are 34-20 all-time in NCAA Tourney play

MSU DENVER HISTORY

- The Roadrunners are the number four seed after winning the South Central Region
- MSU Denver is ranked #10 in the most recent AVCA top 25 poll
- The Roadrunners have won 20 straight matches, including winning the RMAC Tourney title
- MSU Denver was the region host for the third time (also hosted 2021 and 2022)
- Back-to-back RMAC tournament champions
- The Roadrunners are making their first-ever trip to the national quarterfinals
- MSU Denver is making its 25th straight NCAA Tournament appearance
- The Roadrunners swept Colorado Mesa in the region quarters, then beat West Texas A&M 3-1
- MSU Denver clinched its first region title with a 3-0 victory over Angelo State

WINGATE NOTES

- The Bulldogs have piled up the accolades this year
- Sydney Morland is the SAC Player of the Year for the second straight year
- Morland was named the AVCA and D2CCA Region Player of the Year for the second straight season
- Morland earned D2CCA second team All-American honors, with AVCA third team accolades
- She was named a D2CCA and AVCA All-American for the second straight season
- Maya Van Heyst is an AVCA third team All-American for the second straight season
- The setter was named the 2025 SAC Tourney MVP
- Maddie Hoffman, Emily Johnson and Gabby Saye are AVCA honorable mention All-Americans
- The five All-Americans tie a program record with the 2024 squad (same five honorees)
- The 'Dogs had four selections in 2022 and 2023
- Morland, Van Heyst, Hoffman and Johnson were first team All-SAC honorees
- Saye earned second team All-SAC honors; Rylee Tanner was named to the All-SAC Freshman Team
- Lauren Tekavec was named the SAC and AVCA Region Coach of the Year for the second straight year
- The Bulldogs rank second in the nation in winning percentage
- WU is third nationally in assists per set, fourth in kills per set and digs per set
- Wingate ranks fifth in hitting percentage and opponents' hitting percentage
- The 'Dogs are the only team ranked in the top 10 in hitting and opponents' hitting
- Morland is fourth in the nation in hitting percentage (.416), with Johnson ranked 12th (.386)
- Morland is the active career leader in D2 volleyball with her .401 career percentage
- Morland is the only player in D1 or D2 volleyball averaging over 3.0 kills per set hitting over .400
- The two-time All-American leads with 3.27 kills and 1.01 blocks per set, second in the SAC in both
- Johnson ranks fifth among all active D2 players with her .364 career hitting percentage
- She has earned All-American recognition all four years, averaging 2.63 kills and 0.85 blocks per set this year
- Johnson went over 1,000 career kills during the NCAA Regionals
- Saye is fourth in the SAC and 24th in the nation with her .364 hitting percentage
- Saye's .335 career hitting percentage is good for 15th among all active D2 players
- She hit .500 with 43 kills in 78 swings in the regionals
- Saye also went over 1,000 career kills during the 2025 season
- Hoffman ranks second in the SAC in digs per set and aces per set
- The libero averages 5.24 digs and 0.47 aces per set, ranking 21st nationally in digs
- Hoffman also leads all setters in the SAC and region with her 150 assists
- Van Heyst leads the SAC and ranks 16th in the nation with 10.9 assists per set, adding 2.93 digs per set
- She has also piled up 173 kills (hitting .300), 35 blocks and 37 aces
- Van Heyst has 18 double-doubles and a triple-double this year
- Had a triple-double in SAC semis sweep over Carson-Newman
- Has been a kill away from a triple-double five times this season
- Wingate is hitting .279 on the season, with seven players collecting over 100 kills

MSU DENVER NOTES

- The Roadrunners had three players earn AVCA All-American accolades
- Annika Helf earned first team honors, with Karyna Werley earning second team recognition
- Alyssa Boyte picked up honorable mention All-American accolades
- Helf, Werley and Boyte all earned AVCA and D2CCA All-Region honors
- Werley was named the AVCA South Central Region Freshman of the Year
- Helf averages 3.64 kills per set, hitting .290 on the season
- Werley has handed out 5.81 assists per set, while hitting .338 with 2.36 kills per set as a hitter
- Boyte is hitting .364 with 1.93 kills and 1.21 blocks per set, ranking 19th in the nation
- The Roadrunners are third in the nation in hitting percentage and seventh in kills per set
- MSU Denver is also 10th in the nation in assists per set and 33rd in blocks per set

UP NEXT

- The Wingate vs. MSU Denver winner is on to the national semifinals Friday
- The WU-MSUD winner will face the winner of the Tampa vs. Ferris State match
- Friday's semifinals will take place on Friday at 8 p.m. ET
- The national title match is Saturday at 6 p.m.
- Every match will be held at the Sanford Pentagon and will air on ESPN+