GWU Remains Unbeaten at Home, Downs Winthrop, 3-1, on Friday Night
October 08, 2011 | Volleyball
Boiling Springs, N.C. - The Gardner-Webb volleyball team recorded their first conference win of the season on Friday night, as the Runnin' Bulldogs defeated Winthrop 3-1 (25-18, 21-25, 25-16, 25-21) in Paul Porter Arena in Boiling Springs, N.C.
The win puts GWU at 3-0 at home on the season, 5-13 overall and 1-3 in Big South play, while the loss drops Winthrop to 10-6 overall and 3-1 in conference action.
The win was not only the Runnin' Bulldogs' second win over the Lady Eagles in 16 tries since 2000-01, but it also snapped GWU's conference losing streak at 19 matches.
The Runnin' Bulldogs got off to a slow start in the opening set, falling behind 5-1 to the Lady Eagles on a Kristin Cruse service ace.
After a GWU timeout, the Runnin' Bulldogs clawed their way back into the set with an 8-2 run, taking the lead at 9-8 on a kill from junior right side hitter Carol Solano.
Winthrop was able to tie the score up at 10-10, however, a Lady Eagle service error gave the lead back to the Runnin' Bulldogs who did not look back, running out on a 12-2 run to take an eight point lead at 20-12 on a third straight Winthrop attack error.
Gardner-Webb held off the Lady Eagles down the stretch of the opening set, as a kill by junior outside hitter Melissa Richie gave the Runnin' Bulldogs the first set, 25-18, win and an early 1-0 match lead.
The Runnin' Bulldogs carried over the momentum from the first set win into the second set, jumping out to an 8-3 lead on a kill by Solano. However, the Lady Eagles made a run of their own, battling back to cut the GWU to one at 9-8 on a Catherine Brusie service ace.
Over the next several rallies, GWU was able to hold on to a slight lead over the Lady Eagles, taking a 20-17 lead on an Evan Moffitt service ace.
Yet the Runnin' Bulldogs were unable to put the set away, as Winthrop rallied with a 6-0 run to take the lead at 23-20, and put the pressure back on the Runnin 'Bulldogs.
Winthrop scored two out of the last three points to defeat GWU, 25-21, in the second set and tie the match up at 1-1.
With the match knotted up at one set apiece, Gardner-Webb again took an early lead in the third set, as a 4-0 run, capped off by a kill by sophomore middle blocker Tyler Cockrell, put the Runnin' Bulldogs in front by six at 12-6.
After a Winthrop timeout, the Runnin' Bulldogs refused to surrender the lead, pushing their lead out to as much as nine at 20-11 on a Solano service ace.
The two teams' played evenly over the final 10 possessions of the match, as three straight points by way of a Laura Wilcox kill, a Winthrop attack error and a Moffitt service ace, gave the Runnin' Bulldogs a 25-16 set win and a 2-1 match advantage.
Looking to put both the set and the match away early, GWU used a 6-0 run to start the fourth set, highlighted by two service aces from freshman setter Heather Feldman.
Winthrop was able to cut the GWU lead to one, at 13-12, using a 12-7 run to force the Runnin' Bulldogs to call a timeout.
Out of the timeout, Winthrop tied the score up at 13-13 on a kill by Stephanie Palmer, however, would fail to take the lead, as Gardner-Webb picked up back-to-back kills from Feldman and Wilcox to pull out to a three-point lead at 16-13.
The Lady Eagles were able to get within two points of the Runnin' Bulldogs at 21-19 on a GWU attack error, however, Gardner-Webb finished the set out strong with two kills from Richie, and one kill apiece from Wilcox and Evans, to pick up the 25-21 set win and the 3-1 match victory.
Gardner-Webb offensively was led by Lauren Evans, who had 14 kills and 14 digs, and Richie, who posted a season-high 12 kills to go along with 10 digs. Wilcox and Solano each had nine kills apiece, while Cockrell added eight kills and six total blocks in the win.
Feldman dished out 42 assists and recorded three service aces, while Moffitt had 23 digs and four service aces.
For Winthrop, Carolyn Weed and Becca Toor posted nine and eight kills apiece, respectively, while libero Brusie recorded a match-high 31 digs.
Gardner-Webb (5-13, 1-3 Big South) will return to the court tomorrow afternoon, as the Runnin' Bulldogs will host the Presbyterian College Blue Hose at 12 p.m. noon in Paul Porter Arena.
Winthrop (10-6, 3-1 Big South) will look to bounce back from its first conference loss of the season tomorrow afternoon, as the Lady Eagles will take on UNC Asheville at 4:30 p.m. in Asheville, N.C.
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| Box Score: Gardner-Webb 3, Winthrop 1 |
