BOILING SPRINGS ---- Taylor Lillard (Victorville, Calif.) posted 15 kills, while Anna Pashkova (Iowa City, Iowa) and Tyler Cockrell (Tulsa, Okla.) added match-highs of 32 digs and 11 blocks, respectively, to lead Gardner-Webb back from a 2-1 deficit against Charlotte en route to a thrilling five-set victory on Tuesday evening in Paul Porter Arena.
Gardner-Webb (3-9) records its second win in as many matches, defeating Charlotte (8-5) by scores of 30-28, 16-25, 22-25, 27-25, and 15-7 while holding the 49ers to a .187 clip on the attack. The two squads combined for 158 digs, 24 blocks, and more than 350 attacking attempts in the marathon five-set tilt.
"I'm very proud of our effort tonight," said head coach Leo Sayles. "The team showed true grit, fighting to come from behind in sets one and four, and putting away a tough match against a quality program. Our crowd did a great job cheering on the team and encouraging them even when we were behind. Our coaching staff challenged the team during a timeout in the fourth set and the girls responded with fire. Our defense late in the match was outstanding."
Lillard paced the Gardner-Webb attack with 15 kills and a .297 attack percentage, while Brianna Starr (Blue Springs, Mo.) added a double-double with 12 kills and 15 digs. Pashkova recorded a match-high 32 digs, as Heather Feldman (Eden, N.Y.) tallied 46 assists, six digs, five blocks, four kills, and three service aces.
Kaelyn Dyson (Holly Springs, N.C.) chipped in seven smashes and three blocks, while Cockrell added eight kills and a match-high 11 blocks. Pashkova and Kacy O'Connor (Southport, N.C.) each tallied two service aces.
"Tyler Cockrell's blocking effort at the net and Anna Pashkova's floor defense were huge down the stretch," continued Sayles. "Coach Bre did a great job calling tough serves, forcing Charlotte out of their system. But we cannot win that match without a great effort on the outside by Taylor Lillard and Brianna Starr. I am very pleased with their aggressive play tonight."
Savannah Gaster led the way for Charlotte with a match-high 16 kills, attacking at a .519 clip, while Irem Asci and Abrela Epps added 17 and 13 kills, respectively. Britney Leigh Held and Michaela White each recorded 28 assists in the contest, while Shelby Green posted 26 digs. Gaster tallied a team-high eight blocks.
Charlotte stormed out of the gate in the first, jumping out to an early 13-7 lead before pushing the margin to 18-9 following a kill by Epps. Gardner-Webb would quickly answer with a 15-4 surge, evening the tally at 21-21 on a tandem block by Feldman and Tyra Montour (Kennesaw, Ga.), before pushing the 49ers to set point at 24-22 with a Lillard smash.
The 49ers countered with a 3-1 spurt, knotting the score at 25-25 before Gardner-Webb responded once again, fighting off set point at 28-27 with three straight tallies to claim the set, 30-28, on a Cockrell smash.
Charlotte battled back in the second, surging to an early 14-5 lead before pushing the advantage to 21-9 with a 7-3 spurt, which was capped by a block from Gaster and Epps. The 49ers would close out the set from there, evening the match at 1-1 following a kill by Asci.
Gardner-Webb fought back in the early moments of the third, jumping out to a quick 4-1 lead before Charlotte responded with a 9-6 run to even the tally at 10-10. The teams battled throughout the remainder of the frame, with neither side claiming more than a one-point advantage until, with Gardner-Webb leading 22-21, Charlotte strung together a late four-point push to claim the set and take a 2-1 lead in the match.
Charlotte carried the momentum into the fourth, opening a 14-11 advantage on a Held dump before pushing the margin to 21-15 following a kill by Marshae Bradbury. The Runnin' Bulldogs refused to give in, fighting back to cut the lead to 22-21 on an emphatic block by Feldman and Cockrell.
After a Feldman ace knotted the score at 22-22, a pair of critical 49er errors handed the Runnin' Bulldogs set point at 24-23. Charlotte would fight off two set points over the next several rallies, evening the tally at 25-25 before Gardner-Webb seized control, closing out the set and sending the match to a decisive fifth frame following a monster smash by Lillard.
The Runnin' Bulldogs kept the petal to the floor to open the fifth, answering an early 3-1 spurt by the 49ers with a 9-2 surge to claim a 10-5 advantage following a perfectly executed solo block by Cockrell. After a tandem stuff by Cockrell and Feldman and a 49er timeout, Gardner-Webb shut the door, tallying four of the final six points in the set to complete the comeback and close out the match with a Feldman ace.
Gardner-Webb is back in action on Friday in Spartanburg, S.C., taking on USC Upstate in a neutral site match at Wofford as part of the Terriers' Spartanburg Courtyard Classic. First serve is slated for 1 p.m.
