Evans, Wilcox and Solano Post Double-Digit Kills in 3-1 Win Over CSU
October 22, 2011 | Volleyball
Charleston, S.C. - For the second time this season, the Gardner-Webb volleyball team posted back-to-back wins, as the Runnin' Bulldogs picked up their first road win of the season on Friday night, defeating Charleston Southern 3-1 (25-20, 25-11, 23-25, 25-23) at the CSU Fieldhouse in Charleston, S.C.
With the win, the Runnin' Bulldogs improve to 7-14 overall and 3-4 in Big South play, while Charleston Southern falls to 4-19 and 1-7 in conference action with the loss.
Gardner-Webb battled the home team point for point to start the first set, tying the match up at 11-11 on a Lauren Evans' kill.
After a Charleston Southern attack error and a kill by GWU's Carol Solano, the Runnin' Bulldogs took their largest lead of the set at 13-11 and forced the Buccaneers to call a timeout.
The tight first set continued, as the Buccaneers battled back to tie the score up once more at 15-15 on a Kayla Klinger service ace.
A service error by the Buccaneers opened the door for the Runnin' Bulldogs, who took the lead once more at 16-15 and did not look back, pulling out in front of Charleston Southern by two at 20-18 on a kill by freshman setter Heather Feldman.
Out of the second Charleston Southern timeout, the Runnin' Bulldogs finished off the Buccaneers with a 5-2 run capped off by another kill by Evans to give the visitors the 25-20 set win and an early 1-0 match lead.
The second set belonged to the Runnin' Bulldogs, as despite falling behind 3-2 early, Gardner-Webb never trailed, running out to a 12-7 lead on a 10-4 run highlighted by back-to-back service aces from junior Melissa Richie.
After a CSU timeout, the stoppage in play did not slow down the Runnin' Bulldog attack, as the visitors came out with three straight kills by Laura Wilcox, Feldman and Richie to take a decisive double-digit lead at 17-7.
The Buccaneers would get as close as 10 on three different occasions, however, the Runnin' Bulldogs refused to take their foot off the gas pedal, rolling out to a 25-11 second set win and a decisive 2-0 match lead.
The home team refused to go away easily, as the Buccaneers took a 3-1 lead in the third set on a GWU attack error.
The set was a mirror image of the first set, as the two teams' went back-and-forth with neither team able to pull away from the other, as the score was tied up at 9-9.
Gardner-Webb responded with an 8-3 run, capped off by a Wilcox kill, to take a 17-12 lead. However, the Buccaneers battled back once more, this time tying the match up at 23-23 on back-to-back Wynter Davis kills.
The Runnin' Bulldogs called a timeout to try and stop the CSU momentum, however, it was to no avail, as the Buccaneers scored the final two points of the set by way of kills from Klinger and Davis to take the 25-23 third set win and cut the GWU match lead to one at 2-1.
Remember their 3-2 loss to Charleston Southern back on September 17th at the USC Upstate Invitational, the Runnin' Bulldogs simply refused to lose in the fourth set.
Both teams again went point-for-point, as the fourth set was once more tied up at 9-9.
Charleston Southern took an 11-9 lead, then a 14-11 lead, only to have the Runnin' Bulldogs fight and claw their way back into the set, eventually taking a 17-16 lead over the Buccaneers and forcing the home team to use their first timeout of the set.
The Runnin' Bulldogs once again finished the set out strong, taking advantage of two CSU errors and two kills by Wilcox to take a 21-18 lead over the Buccaneers.
After a Meg Taylor service ace pushed the Runnin' Bulldogs lead to four at 22-18, the Buccaneers were able to cut the GWU lead to one at 24-23 on back-to-back Gardner-Webb errors.
However, with the set on the line, Wilcox blasted a kill to give the Runnin' Bulldogs the 25-23 set win and the 3-1 match victory.
Evans led the Runnin' Bulldogs offensively with 13 kills, while Solano and Wilcox each posted 12 kills apiece. Feldman dished out 45 set assists, while Richie and senior libero Evan Moffitt tallied 18 and 17 digs, respectively.
Davis paced the Buccaneers with a match-high 14 kills, while setter Amy Nokes totaled 25 assists and 11 digs in the loss.
"I'm proud of our effort tonight. Our first two sets were flawless. CSU had a great crowd and put up a great fight in the final two sets, but give our girls credit for gritting out a tough one," committed head coach Leo Sayles. "I am very proud of them."
Gardner-Webb (7-14, 3-4 Big South) will turn around to take on the Chanticleers of Coastal Carolina tomorrow afternoon at 12 p.m. in Conway, S.C.
Charleston Southern (4-19, 1-7 Big South) will also return to action tomorrow, as the Buccaneers will host UNC Asheville at 7 p.m. in Charleston, S.C.
###
| Box Score: Gardner-Webb 3, Charleston Southern 1 |
