Solano Posts 13 Kills, as GWU Runs Past High Point, 3-1
October 29, 2011 | Volleyball
Boiling Springs, N.C. - Gardner-Webb junior Carol Solano posted a season-high 13 kills, as the Runnin' Bulldogs downed High Point, 3-1, (25-23, 25-15, 13-25, 25-21) on "Think Pink Night" in Paul Porter Arena Friday night in Boiling Springs, N.C.
The win snaps GWU's losing streak to High Point at seven matches and is the Runnin' Bulldogs first-ever Big South Conference win over the Panthers.
GWU improves to 9-15 overall and 4-5 in the Big South with the win, while the loss drops High Point to 6-17 overall and 4-5 in conference play.
The first set was close from start to finish, as both teams traded the lead early, until a kill by senior Lauren Evans tied the score up at 10-10.
The kill sparked a GWU run, as the Runnin' Bulldogs took a 14-10 lead, highlighted by two Evans' service aces.
After pushing their lead to five at 19-14 on another Evans' kill, the Panthers battled back to cut the Gardner-Webb lead to two at 22-20 and once more at 23-21.
A Laura Wilcox kill gave the Runnin' Bulldogs set point at 24-21, only to have the Panthers answer with back-to-back points to put the score at 24-23 and force a GWU timeout.
Out of the timeout, GWU finished the set off with a kill by freshman setter Heather Feldman, giving the Runnin' Bulldogs the 25-23 set win and an early 1-0 match lead.
In set two, the Runnin' Bulldogs posted a .524 attack percentage as a team and led from start to finish, beginning the match with a 13-4 run capped off by back-to-back kills from Wilcox.
A High Point attack error pushed the GWU lead to 10 at 14-4, the largest to that point. However, the Panthers got to as close as eight at 17-9 on a GWU error, only to have the home team use a 4-2 run to take its third double-digit lead at 22-12 on a Melissa Richie kill.
Each team finished the set out with three points apiece, as a kill by Solano gave the Runnin' Bulldogs the 25-15 set win and a 2-0 match lead.
The third set, however, went in favor of the Panthers, as High Point ran out to an 8-4 lead to force a GWU timeout.
Gardner-Webb couldn't stop the High Point momentum in the third set, as the Panthers took a decisive 21-12 lead on a GWU error en route to a 25-13 set win.
With GWU holding on to a slight 2-1 match lead, the Runnin' Bulldogs fell behind early in the fourth set as well, as the Panthers took a 10-8 lead on a GWU attack error.
Gardner-Webb battled back to take a 13-12 lead on back-to-back service aces by Feldman, and then retook the lead once more at 14-13 on a High Point attack error.
The two teams' traded points back-and-forth over the next several rallies, until a kill by Solano, an Evan Moffitt service ace and back-to-back kills from Solano and Richie pushed the home team in front by three at 20-17.
High Point cut the GWU lead to two at 20-18 on a Lauren Bell kill, however, the Runnin' Bulldogs simply refused to lose, finishing the set out on a 5-3 run to take the 25-21 set win and the 3-1 match victory.
Solano led the way with a match-high 13 kills, while junior Dominique Bray and Richie posted 11 and 10 digs, respectively. Sophomore middle blocker Tyler Cockrell recorded seven kills and four total blocks, while Feldman dished out a team-high 35 set assists in the win.
For High Point, Kristin Heldt and Chelsea Davis each recorded a team-high 11 kills, while Courtney Johnk tallied 10 kills and 10 digs in the loss.
Gardner-Webb (9-15, 4-5 Big South) will return to action tomorrow night, as the Runnin' Bulldogs will host the Campbell Fighting Camels at 5 p.m. as part of Saturday's Homecoming festivities.
High Point (6-17, 4-5 Big South) will remain on the road to take on the UNC Asheville Bulldogs at 5 p.m. in Asheville, N.C.
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| Box Score: Gardner-Webb 3, High Point 1 |
