Bulldogs Shatter School Records In Thrilling Come From Behind Win Over North Florida
October 05, 2007 | Volleyball
BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – The Gardner-Webb volleyball team not only shattered two school records Friday evening, but also shattered the hopes that North Florida had as the Bulldogs came back to win a thrilling five-game match in Paul Porter Arena, 3-2 (30-16, 28-30, 26-30, 30-19, 15-7).
The Bulldogs improve to 10-11 on the year and even their A-Sun mark at 2-2. UNF falls to 4-15 overall and 1-4 in the league.
GWU posted a school-record setting 141 digs, thanks in part to extended play on virtually every point throughout the evening. Junior Katie Matykowski established a school record with 40 digs, besting the previous mark that she set last year of 36.
Offensively, senior Ashley Pridgeon accounted for a match-high 19 kills as did junior Bethany Martin. Junior Heidi Steinebrunner added 15 kills while senior Audra Harrison chipped in eight.
Sophomore Regina Feagin dished out 63 assists on the night, falling just one shy of the school-record 64 that she had last season in the win over Mercer.
To go along with her 63 assists, Feagin posted 14 digs for a double-double. Steinebrunner and Pridgeon accounted for double-doubles, notching 17 and 16 digs, respectively. Harrison accounted for a personal-best 32 digs, which is the fifth-best mark in school history.
GWU jumped out to an early lead in game one, posting a 10-4 lead on a Jessica Clayton kill. After the visitors pulled within three at 13-10, the Bulldogs ran off nine straight points with Harrison back to serve. Harrison gave the defense tough opportunities, which translated into easy digs by GWU, setting up Pridgeon for three kills during that run. Martin and Steinebrunner also accounted for kills during the spurt, essentially putting the game out of reach. GWU won the first game, 30-16.
The Bulldogs played tight throughout in game two, but the Ospreys stepped up their game as well. A service error by Carrie Long gave UNF the ball back, and the visitors quickly took a 23-20 lead during the next few points. Down 28-24, Pridgeon attempted to bring the Bulldogs back with a kill. It was followed by Martin's slam, getting head coach Chris Phillips' team within two at 28-26. Long's service ace pulled the Bulldogs within one at 29-28, but her next serve missed the back line by inches, giving UNF a 30-28 win.
GWU took what seemed like a solid lead on a Pridgeon kill at 17-12 during game three, but the visitors never gave up. UNF slowly climbed back into the game, tying the contest at 26-26 off an attack error by Steinebrunner. The Ospreys took the last six points of the game from the Red and Black, 30-26, giving the team a 2-1 advantage.
In the past, GWU might have given up, down 2-1. However, reminiscent of the Campbell match a year ago and the Davidson match this year, GWU did not look scared. To start game four, Phillips went with the original line-up and it worked beautifully.
The Bulldogs jumped out to a 10-4 lead off a Martin service ace. Although the Ospreys closed the gap at 12-9, GWU once again showed what it was made of. Behind Matykowski's serves, the Bulldogs powered home 14 of the next 18 points for a commanding 26-13 lead. Pridgeon closed the game with back-to-back kills, forcing the deciding game five.
After dropping the first point in game five, GWU rolled off five straight points behind kills by Harrison. The Bulldogs continued trading points, but took a 9-5 lead. Pridgeon answered the bell with a kill and it was followed by an attack error by UNF. Clayton and Pridgeon tallied back-to-back kills before Steinebrunner had a service ace to take a 14-5 lead.
UNF tried to mount a comeback, but Harrison finished the match off with a definitive slam through the Osprey defense for the 15-7 win.
The Bulldogs hope to continue their hot play as they face
Jacksonville tomorrow at 3 p.m., in Paul Porter Arena.
| Combined Stats |
| Box Score |
