Errors Haunt GWU in 3-1 Loss to Presbyterian College on Saturday Afternoon
October 08, 2011 | Volleyball
Boiling Springs, N.C. - The Runnin' Bulldogs were haunted by errors all match long, as Gardner-Webb committed 44 total errors in a 3-1 home loss to Presbyterian College on Saturday afternoon in Paul Porter Arena.
The loss was GWU's first at home this season and drops the Runnin' Bulldogs to 5-14 overall and 1-4 in the Big South, while the win pushes Presbyterian College to 7-12 overall and 3-2 in the Big South.
Senior outside hitter Lauren Evans posted 12 kills, while Melissa Richie and Tyler Cockrell each recorded nine kills apiece in the loss.
For PC, Presley Mabrey tallied a match-high 17 kills, one ahead of fellow teammate Allison Brown who had 16 kills.
In the first set, GWU ran out to a 7-3 lead on a Carol Solano service ace, only to have the Blue Hose answer with an 8-2 run to take the lead at 11-9 on a Kelly Berryman kill.
The Runnin' Bulldogs were able to battle back and take the lead at 17-16 on a kill by senior middle blocker Laura Wilcox and then pushed its lead out to three at 19-16 on back-to-back points.
However, the Blue Hose responded with a 6-0 run to retake the lead at 22-19 on a Rachel Hall service ace and put the Runnin' Bulldogs behind late in the opening set.
GWU picked up back-to-back points on back-to-back kills from Evans and Cockrell to cut the PC lead to one at 22-21, yet would surrender three straight points to the Blue Hose to drop the first set 25-21.
In the second set, the Blue Hose jumped out to a 5-2 lead on a GWU service error.
The Runnin' Bulldogs then found their offense, outscoring PC 7-4 to tie the score up at 9-9 on a Blue Hose attack error. Yet the run would be stopped by a GWU attack error, as the Blue Hose would pull away with a 14-10 lead on a kill by Allison Brown.
GWU cut the lead to one at 15-14, 16-15 and at 19-18, yet could not overtake the Blue Hose, as PC finished the set out on a 6-1 run to take the 25-19 set win and a 2-0 match lead.
The third set belonged to the Runnin' Bulldogs, as Gardner-Webb ran out to a 5-1 lead on a Solano service ace.
Gardner-Webb continued to hold onto a small lead, as a back-to-back service aces from Richie and then a Wilcox kill put the Runnin' Bulldogs in front big at 20-11.
The Runnin' Bulldogs refused to relinquish the lead, finishing the set out with a 5-4 point advantage to pick up the 25-15 set win and cut the PC match lead to one at 2-1.
GWU fell behind 3-1 in the fourth set, yet battled back to take a 13-11 lead on a Solano kill to force a Presbyterian College timeout.
Out of the timeout, the Runnin' Bulldogs picked up a kill from Cockrell, yet saw the Blue Hose go on an 8-2 run to take a 19-16 lead on back-to-back kills from Brown.
After a GWU timeout, the Runnin' Bulldogs stormed back to take a 22-20 lead on three straight PC errors.
A kill by Cockrell put the Runnin' Bulldogs up at 23-21 and had the home crowd rocking. However, three straight points from PC closed the set out and gave the Blue Hose the 25-23 set win and the 3-1 match victory.
Gardner-Webb (5-14, 1-4 Big South) will remain at home for their next bout, as the Runnin' Bulldogs will host UNC Asheville at 7 p.m. on October 14th in Paul Porter Arena. The Asheville Bulldogs have won the previous two meetings this season over Gardner-Webb with both matches going all five sets.
Presbyterian College (7-12, 3-2 Big South) will also return to the court next Friday night, as the Blue Hose will take on High Point at 7 p.m. in High Point, N.C.
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| Box Score: PC 3, Gardner-Webb 1 |
