Wilcox Sets New GWU Division I Career Blocks Record in GWU's 3-1 Win over Wofford
October 26, 2011 | Volleyball
Spartanburg, S.C. - Gardner-Webb senior middle blocker Laura Wilcox blocked her way into the GWU Division I volleyball record book on Tuesday night, as the Runnin' Bulldogs defeated the Wofford College Terriers 3-1 (25-18, 11-25, 25-19, 25-20) in non-conference action in Spartanburg, S.C.
Wilcox posted four total blocks to give her 231 total blocks, making her GWU's Division I career leader in total blocks, surpassing former Gardner-Webb standout student-athlete and current assistant coach Bethany Martin who previously held the record with 228 total blocks.
The win, which is the Runnin' Bulldogs fourth out of their last six matches, pushed Gardner-Webb to 8-15 overall, while the loss drops Wofford to 13-14 overall.
The win also completed a GWU season series sweep of the Terriers, who also defeated Wofford in the two teams' other meeting this season back on September 17th at the USC Upstate Invitational.
In the opening set, the Runnin' Bulldogs tied the score up at 4-4 on a kill by freshman setter Heather Feldman, only to have the Terriers pull out in front with a 6-0 run to take a 10-4 lead on back-to-back kills by Rachel Woodlee and Amanda Liguori.
Gardner-Webb bounced back with a 10-4 run, capped off by back-to-back kills by Wilcox and Feldman, to tie the score up once more at 14-14.
After trading points, the Runnin' Bulldogs picked up a kill by junior outside hitter Molly Rhyne to take the lead at 16-15, a lead that GWU would not relinquish for the remainder of the set.
Out of a Wofford timeout, Gardner-Webb's run continued with another kill by Rhyne and back-to-back service aces by Melissa Richie, pushing the visitors in front by four at 19-15 and force Wofford to call their second timeout.
GWU finished the set out on a 6-3 run, capped off by consecutive kills from Rhyne and junior Carol Solano and a Wofford attack error, giving the Runnin' Bulldogs the 25-18 come from behind set win and an early 1-0 match lead.
The Runnin' Bulldogs were never in the second set, as after tying the score up at 2-2 early on an Erin Anderson service ace, the Terriers took over the set, running out to a 17-5 lead on a Liguori kill.
GWU's Rhyne would record four of the Runnin' Bulldogs last five points, however, the Terriers continued to roll en route to a 25-11 set win and tied the match up at one set apiece.
The third set was much closer, as the two teams' went back-and-forth, until a 5-0 run by the Terriers pushed the home team ahead by three at 9-6.
The Runnin' Bulldogs answered with a 7-4 run of their own, including four straight points, to retie the score up at 13-13.
After a Wofford service ace knotted the score up at 17-17, Gardner-Webb took advantage of five straight Terrier errors to take a 22-17 lead.
A Wilcox kill and two more kills by Rhyne put the score at 25-19 in favor of GWU, giving the visitors a 2-1 match lead.
With a 2-1 match lead, the Runnin' Bulldogs looked to put the match away in the fourth set, only to have the Terriers run out to another early lead, this time at 9-5, which forced Gardner-Webb head coach Leo Sayles to call an early timeout.
After a 5-2 run pushed the Runnin' Bulldogs into within one point of the Terriers at 11-10, Wofford again had an answer as a Rachel Woodlee kill pushed the Terriers in front by two at 16-14.
On the very next rally, sophomore middle blocker Tyler Cockrell recorded a kill which jump started a 6-3 run by the Runnin' Bulldogs to take a 20-19 lead over the Terriers.
Wofford tied the score up at 20-20 on a Bekah Dorsey kill, however, the Runnin' Bulldogs kept their composure and finished the set out strong with a 5-0 run to take the fourth set 25-20 and the 3-1 match win.
Rhyne led the Runnin' Bulldogs with 14 kills and 10 digs, while Cockrell totaled nine kills, three aces and six total blocks. Wilcox totaled seven kills and four total blocks, while Anderson posted 11 digs, four aces and one kill in the win. Senior Evan Moffitt recorded a double-double of 14 digs and 11 assists, while Feldman posted a team-high 28 set assists and eight digs.
For Wofford, Liguori and Woodlee posted 13 and 11 kills, respectively, while Dorsey totaled 35 set assists and 13 digs in the loss.
"The girls did a great job tonight. After Wofford pounded us in set two, we made a few lineup changes. The girls responded well under pressure and gritted out a tough win," commented coach Sayles. "Molly Rhyne was outstanding tonight and our serve was deadly. We are looking forward to playing at home again this weekend."
Gardner-Webb (8-15, 3-5 Big South) will return to action this weekend, as the Runnin' Bulldogs will host High Point at 7 p.m. on Friday night, "Think Pink Night", and Campbell on Saturday night at 5 p.m. as part of GWU's Homecoming festivities.
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| Box Score: Gardner-Webb 3, Wofford 1 |
