HARRISONBURG, Va. – Freshman Joy Rhodes tallied 13 kills along with four service aces to propel Gardner-Webb to a straight-set sweep of Rider on Friday night at the JMU Classic hosted by James Madison.
 
"I was pleased to see the team bounce back with a solid effort after our opening round loss to a great JMU team," said head coach Leo Sayles.  "We clicked offensively tonight against Rider, as Joy Rhodes had an outstanding game and the decision to shift Kaelyn Dyson back to the middle paid off.  We still have room for improvement but I am still very pleased with our effort."
 
Gardner-Webb (1-1) won the match by scores of 25-23, 25-21, and 25-21, attacking at a .200 clip, while holding Rider (1-1) to a hitting percentage of .108. The Runnin' Bulldogs posted totals of 47 digs, 39 kills, and four blocks, compared to 51 digs, 35 kills, and four blocks for the Broncs.
 
Rhodes led Gardner-Webb with 13 kills, while Emma Milstead led the team with 12 digs.  Dyson, Keira Moore, and Amanda Sahm each collected two blocks.
 
Evelyn Shanefield and Jennifer Borio each had seven kills to lead Rider, while Emma Aldaya led the way with 20 digs.  Perry Williams and Borio each had two blocks.
 
Rider jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the first set, but the Runnin' Bulldogs would respond, with six consecutive points, capped by two straight aces by Rhodes to take a 6-2 advantage.  The two squads would exchange points throughout the remainder of the set until the Broncs would go on a 5-1 spurt to tie the set at 21-21.  GWU would score the next two points to take a 23-21 advantage, and would go on to win the set by a score of 25-23 on a kill by Rhodes.
 
The second set began much like the first, with Rider jumping out to a quick 2-0 lead before GWU would go on a 6-1 run to take a 6-3 lead.  Gardner-Webb would build its lead to seven points at 16-9 after a kill by Nicole Celarek, but Rider would respond with seven unanswered points to tie the set at 16-16.  The Runnin' Bulldogs would stop the Broncs run with a 5-1 spurt to reclaim control of the set at 21-17, and would go on to take the second set by a score of 25-21.
 
The onset of the third set went back and forth, with neither team being able to take control until Gardner-Webb would go on a 5-1 run to take a 12-9 lead.  GWU would push the lead to as high as five points at 16-11 after a kill by Rhodes, and would go on to take the set by a four-point margin at 25-21 on a kill by Moore to seal the overall match win.
 
Gardner-Webb returns to action Saturday morning, taking on Sacred Heart at 11:00 am as the JMU Classic continues.