BOILING SPRINGS --- Taylor Lillard (Victorville, Calif.) put down a match- and career-high 19 kills, and Gardner-Webb combined for 16 blocks as the Runnin' Bulldogs rallied for a 3-1 victory over Presbyterian College in Big South Conference play on Friday evening in Paul Porter Arena.
"I am very proud of the fighting spirit the team displayed tonight," praised head coach Leo Sayles. "After the loss at Radford, we had a deep talk as a team. They were very determined all week, and had several good, competitive practices. We had an outstanding crowd, and they kept us in the match with their cheers – I am so thankful that they came back after the "break." We certainly needed them!"
Gardner-Webb (5-14, 1-3 Big South) won the match by scores of 25-27, 27-25, 25-19 and 25-15, attacking at a .129 clip while holding Presbyterian (3-14, 1-3 Big South) to a hitting percentage of .024. The Runnin' Bulldogs combined for 49 kills, 74 digs and 16 blocks on the night, while Presbyterian recorded 39 kills, 69 digs and four blocks.
Lillard led the way for Gardner-Webb with 19 kills, two blocks and a .295 hitting percentage, while Sydney Marshall (Norcross, Ga.) added 10 kills and six blocks. Jene Lee (San Dimas, Calif.) chipped in five kills to go along with a match-high eight blocks, as Anna Pashkova (Iowa City, Iowa) posted 16 digs.
Justine Bowers (Dana Point, Calif.) tallied 36 assists, 12 digs, three blocks and three service aces, while Kaelyn Dyson (Holly Springs, N.C.) recorded six kills and four blocks.
Ashton Stewart paced the Blue Hose with 10 kills, as Samantha Del Toro and Rachel Elshoff added eight and seven kills, respectively. Jaclyn Brewington dished out a match-high 37 assists to go along with eight digs, as Mikayla Register and Elshoff posted 22 and 18 digs, respectively.
The teams battled for every point throughout the opening two sets, with Presbyterian rallying from set point, 25-24, in the first frame to take a 1-0 lead in the match on an ace from Sara Rogers.
Gardner-Webb would answer in the second, fighting back from several deficits throughout the frame – including a 14-12 PC advantage – to push the Blue Hose to set point at 24-22 following a block from Lee and Bowers. Presbyterian quickly responded with three of the next four points, evening the tally at 25-25 following a Stewart smash.
The Runnin' Bulldogs answered once again back-to-back points, knotting the match at 1-1 with a Lee smash and a tandem stuff by Lee and Dyson.
Gardner-Webb carried the momentum into the third, opening the frame on a 7-2 run before pushing the margin to 21-15 on back-to-back kills from Devin Judge (Marietta, Ga.) and Dyson. The Runnin' Bulldogs would hold off a late Presbyterian push to close out the set and take a 2-1 lead in the match on an ace from Katie Loftin (Ooltewah, Tenn.).
Loftin and the Runnin' Bulldogs kept pushing in the fourth, opening a commanding 22-9 lead on the heels of a 10-0 run before capping the comeback on a Lillard smash.
"There were so many outstanding scrappy plays, and several noteworthy performances," continued Sayles. "Taylor Lillard had a career night – but what is even more important, she was willing to put the team on her shoulders and lead them with her play. Our blockers were phenomenal tonight, and our block certainly affected the match. This was a much needed win for the conference standings, and for us as a team. Hopefully, we can get some much needed rest and return with the same fire tomorrow!"
Gardner-Webb continues its Homecoming Weekend festivities on Saturday at 2:00 pm when the Runnin' Bulldogs host Winthrop in Big South play.
