Gardner-Webb Falls In Three To UNC-A
October 23, 2007 | Volleyball
BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – The Gardner-Webb volleyball team was unable to overcome a sluggish start and fell to UNC-Asheville Tuesday evening in Paul Porter Arena by a 3-0 score. Game scores were 26-30, 22-30, 23-30.
The Bulldogs fall to 13-14 on the year while UNCA improves to 7-19.
GWU was led by senior Ashley Pridgeon's 12 kills. Junior Heidi Steinebrunner tallied nine kills while Jackie Mathison and Bethany Martin added six and five, respectively.
Sophomore Regina Feagin dished out a team-best 32 assists. Martin sliced the UNCA defense for two service aces while Feagin and Katie Matykowski each added one.
Defensively, a trio of Bulldogs reached double figures for kills. Steinebrunner led the way with 11 while Matykowski and Feagin each amassed 10. Senior Audra Harrison, along with Pridgeon, notched nine digs.
Mathison and rookie Carrie Long each assisted on two GWU stuffs of UNCA attacks. Feagin and Martin each had a solo block in the match.
In game one, GWU jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead on to see it dissipate quickly, as UNCA tied the game at 5-5. The teams traded points until it was 10-10. The Bulldogs took their last lead of the game off an attack error by Heather Burns. From that point on, UNCA had GWU's number, scoring seemingly at will. It didn't hurt that head coach Chris Phillips' team tallied five straight errors, three of which came from Steinebrunner.
Down by seven at 20-13, GWU attempted to get back in the game, slicing the deficit to two, 24-22, off an attack error by the visitors, but could get no closer. UNCA pulled away to take a 30-26 victory in game one.
The Bulldogs took a three-point lead in game two at 7-4 off a kill by Steinebrunner, but the team was unable to continue the early momentum as the visitors tied the contest at eight apiece after a Long attack error.
In the midst of a 7-2 run, Pridgeon stopped the bleeding momentarily with a kill, pulling GWU within one, but UNCA once again pulled away. However, the Bulldogs battled back, eventually taking a 15-14 lead on a ball handling error by Rachel Guinane. It marked the last lead GWU would have for the game as the visitors once again went on a 7-2 run to put the game at 21-17. The Bulldogs would get no closer in the contest, scoring just five of the next 14 points and falling, 30-22.
In game three, the teams played evenly throughout the early going, with GWU taking a 9-8 lead on Martin's ace. The Bulldogs went up two at 10-8 and again at 12-10, both coming off UNCA miscues. However, UNCA would come back to take a 16-13 lead off a block by Alysha Greer and Lauren Ficker. UNCA pushed its advantage to four at 21-17 after a Feagin service error. UNCA would gradually pull away, ending the game at 30-23 with a kill by Kelsey Benorden.
GWU returns to action on Saturday as it hosts ETSU. First serve
is slated for 5 p.m.
| Combined Stats |
| Box Score |
