Gardner-Webb's First-Ever Victory Over Davidson Comes In Runnin' Bulldog Classic Championship
September 08, 2007 | Volleyball
BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – In one of the longest matches every played in Paul Porter Arena, the Gardner-Webb volleyball team came from behind to defeat Davidson in the championship game of the Runnin' Bulldog Classic 3-2 (26-30, 30-27, 20-30, 30-24, 15-12) Saturday evening.
The Bulldogs improve to 6-5 while Davidson falls to 5-3 on the year.
Regina Feagin, the MVP of the tournament, dished out a match-high 52 assists while chipping in seven digs and five kills. Junior Heidi Steinebrunner, an all-tournament team selection slammed home 23 kills to go along with 13 digs.
Senior Ashley Pridgeon tallied 16 kills alongside 21 digs. Fellow fourth-year player Audra Harrison also had 21 digs as well as nine kills.
Junior Katie Matykowski established a school record with 36 digs. She also chipped in two assists.
After a close loss in game one, the Bulldogs battled back to take game two, 30-27. It was a back-and-forth affair, just like the entire match. Neither team held its serve for more than three points during the game. With the score knotted at 20-20, the Bulldogs forced back-to-back attack errors by the Wildcats. The squads traded points until the score was 26 apiece. Steinebrunner slammed home a pass from Feagin for a one-point lead. Then, a block by Pridgeon and Jessica Clayton put GWU up two. Harrison's kill made the score 29-26. Davidson's Hayley Lawson recorded a kill, but Pridgeon closed the door on the Wildcats with a kill for the game-winner.
Davidson opened up an early advantage in game three behind Sarabeth Peele. Down 10-5, GWU was unable to really pull within striking distance the rest of the way in the 30-20 loss.
Head coach Chris Phillips' spoke adamantly with the team between the third and fourth games and the Bulldogs' ears perked up. Facing a defeat on its home court for the first time this season, GWU gave up the first point of game four but netted 12 of the next 15 for a 12-4 lead. The Bulldogs continued to maintain a large lead for most of the game, but a Brittany Narr kill pulled the visitors to within five at 28-23. After the teams traded points, Peele's service error forced a game five.
Only playing to 15, the Bulldogs were faced with an early 4-1 deficit, but again responded to Phillips' talking. GWU tied the match on a kill by Martin at 4-4 and took the lead on a Peele attack error.
With the score tied at 6-6, Steinebrunner put the Bulldogs ahead for good with a kill of her own. GWU extended its lead to four on Feagin's service ace, 10-6.
However, the visitors would fight back and pull within two at 12-10 on an attack error by GWU. Pridgeon once again answered the call, posting a kill for a 13-10 lead.
A Feagin attack error gave Davidson its 12th point, but Martin and Steinebrunner recorded back-to-back kills to win the match, putting GWU over .500 for the first time this season.
The Bulldogs return to action on Sept. 11 at Western Carolina. The first serve is slated for 7 p.m.
In the earlier afternoon match, Air Force outlasted North Carolina A&T 3-2.
The Falcons were led by Nichole Stilwell's 23 kills. Michelle Harringon tallied 18 while Caroline Kurtz and Katie Batchelder each chipped in 10.
Kim Kallabis had 47 assists while Kelly Spencer had 29 digs to lead the way for Air Force.
The Aggies' Krystal Cooper had 18 kills while Aundia Gray and Avignon Williams had 13 and 12, respectively.
The all-tournament team:
MVP – Regina Feagin (GWU)
Heidi Steinebrunner (GWU)
Katie Pierucci (Davidson)
Sarabeth Peele (Davidson)
Michelle Harrington (Air Force)
Ivy Williams (North Carolina A&T)
| Combined Stats |
| Box Score |
