Bulldogs Lose Home Finale 3-1 To Charleston Southern
November 08, 2008 | Volleyball
BOILING SPRINGS,
N.C. – The Gardner-Webb volleyball team put forth a
tremendous effort Saturday afternoon but was unable to hold on to
an early lead as the squad fell by a 3-1 score (25-19, 23-25,
15-25, 20-25) to Charleston Southern in Paul Porter Arena.
The Bulldogs drop to 5-24 on the season and 3-12 in Big South play.
The Bucs improve to 14-17 on the season and 3-11 in league
action.
Head coach Chris Phillips' team was led by senior Heidi
Steinebrunner, who notched a match-best 17 kills. Rookie Laura
Wilcox added 12 while senior Bethany Martin chipped in 10.
Setters Regina Feagin and Evan Moffitt each compiled a
double-double. Feagin dished out a match-high 35 assists to go
along with 11 digs. Moffitt posted 16 assists and 11 digs.
On the defensive front, five GWU student-athletes recorded double
figures in digs. In addition to Feagin and Moffitt, Steinebrunner
and junior Brett Wilson each totaled a team-best 14 while senior
Katie Matykowski notched 12.
Martin and junior Jessica Clayton each had a solo block while
Martin also posted three block assists.
GWU took the first set in fine style. The teams played tight
throughout the early going, but CSU had a three-point edge at 12-9.
The Bulldogs ran off four straight points to take a 13-12 lead.
From that point forward, the teams traded points until it was
17-17.
Wilcox got things going with a kill. Then CSU committed an error
just before Steinebrunner connected on a pass from Matykowski for a
20-17 lead, forcing the visitors into calling a timeout. The break
in action didn't help the Bucs as Martin drilled a pass from
Moffitt for a four-point advantage just before Nichole Diller's
attack error gave GWU a lead it would not relinquish. The Bulldogs
put away the Bucs by a 25-19 count in the frame.
The second set was extremely close again. The largest lead by
either side was three at the midway point. With the score tied at
18-18, Emily Libertowski connected on a ball, giving CSU a
one-point lead. However, Brittany Wilson slammed home a pass from
Moffitt to tie the contest. Two kills by Amanda Hill and an attack
error by GWU gave the visitors what looked like an insurmountable
lead.
However, GWU would fight back. Trailing 24-20, Wilcox and Clayton
recorded back-to-back kills, forcing the Bucs into a timeout. An
attack error by Hill pulled GWU within one, but the squad could get
no closer as a service error gave the set to the visitors,
25-23.
After the 10-minute intermission, the Bucs jumped on top early,
taking a commanding 7-2 lead. The visitors would increase the lead
to six, 15-9, at the midway point. GWU was unable to get any closer
than five the rest of the way despite some solid attempts as the
team fell 25-15.
A switch at libero put Brett Wilson into the match as the defensive
specialist as Matykowski moved to the front row, allowing both
sensational players to be on the court at the same time.
The move inspired GWU in the fourth set as the team trailed just
15-13 on a kill by Tamia Herholz. CSU maintained its three-point
lead until Steinebrunner's back-to-back kills pulled the Red and
Black within two, 21-19. CSU responded after a timeout, putting the
contest away by a 25-20 score.
The Bulldogs step out of conference as they play at North Carolina
A&T on Tuesday at 7 p.m.
| Box Score |
