Gardner-Webb Unable To Overcome Early Deficit, Falls 3-1
October 14, 2008 | Volleyball
BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – Despite a solid effort by the Gardner-Webb volleyball program, the squad was unable to overcome an early deficit and fell to UNC Asheville by a 3-1 score (22-25, 25-21, 15-25, 9-25).
GWU falls to 4-17 on the season and 2-5 in Big South play while UNCA improves to 9-10 overall and 1-5 in conference competition.
Leading the way for GWU was Heidi Stieinebrunner, who notched 14 kills in the match. Rookie Laura Wilcox posted 10 to go along with five digs and four block assists.
Junior Regina Feagin posted a match-best 36 assists to go along with 16 digs and a block assist.
Senior Bethany Martin posted eight kills and a block assist. Freshman Lauren Evans, who is coming back from an injury, notched seven kills to go along with four digs and an assist.
On the defensive front, senior Katie Matykowski continued to add to her school record for digs, having amassed a match-best 29. She also chipped in an assist.
In the first set, UNCA jumped out to an 18-12 lead only to see the home Bulldogs knot the score at 18-18. In the 6-0 run, Wilcox posted two kills while Evans notched one. Kelsey Benorden was stuffed by Evan Moffitt and Wilcox before Benorden committed another error. With the score tied, GWU was unable to get the ball over the net on the serve, giving the lead right back to UNCA.
As the team traded points until it was 21-21, the home team was unable to take the next step. UNCA posted back-to-back points forcing GWU to take a timeout. Steinebrunner then notched a kill, but a service error and an attack error gave the set to UNCA.
In the second set, GWU had an early 4-0 lead but saw the visitors rattle off eight straight points before the Bulldogs could break serve. After the Red and Black fought back, knotting the score at 10, the visitors once again claimed a two-point lead. However, head coach Chris Phillips team roared back, scoring seven of the next nine points, mainly coming from Martin and Steinebrunner, to take a three-point lead.
The Bulldogs of UNCA would not go away, however. As the teams battled back, Wilcox's kill tied the set at 20-20. Two attack errors by Benorden and an ace by Brett Wilson gave the Bulldogs a lead they would not relinquish. Feagin ended the set off a pass from Matykowski, evening the match as the teams went into intermission.
In the third set, the teams played to an 8-8 tie. From there, UNCA went on a 9-1 run thanks in part to miscues by the Bulldogs. As GWU tried to slice into the lead, the squad could not make much of a dent as the UNCA won 25-16.
In the fourth set, the teams were tied at 1-1 after errors by both squads. From there, it was all UNCA. Moffitt's kill pulled the home team within one, 3-2, and Wilcox's kill allowed GWU to get within one at 4-3, but UNCA ran off nine straight points to effectively put the match out of reach.
The Bulldogs return to action Friday evening as they host High
Point at 7 p.m., in Paul Porter Arena.
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