GREENVILLE, S.C. – The Furman volleyball team held Gardner-Webb to 25 kills while posting a .288 hitting percentage of its own en route to a straight-set sweep of the Runnin' Bulldogs on Wednesday evening.
Furman (5-5) took the match by scores of 25-10, 25-18, and 25-23, while tallying 43 kills, six blocks, and a .288 clip on the attack. The Paladins held Gardner-Webb (6-6) to 25 kills, 35 digs, and a .054 hitting percentage.
Molly Johnston led Gardner-Webb on the attack with seven kills, while
Keira Moore led the team with three blocks.
Amanda Sahm tallied 11 assists and nine digs to lead the team.
Furman was led by Jamila Johnson with 14 kills, Courtney Hoffman with three blocks, and Hunter Thompson with 26 assists and 11 digs.
The Runnin' Bulldogs opened the first set with a quick 5-1 run, capped by service ace by Moore, but Furman would answer with a 9-1 run to take a 10-6 lead and control of the set. GWU would pull within three points at 12-9 after a ball handling error by Furman's Meg DeMarr, but the Paladins would finish the match with a run of 13-1 to take the first set by a score of 25-10.
Furman would take a 7-4 lead to start the second set, but the Runnin' Bulldogs would respond with four unanswered points to take a 8-7 lead after a kill by
Maria Emmick. The two teams would trade the next few points, with GWU holding a 11-10 lead after a kill by Moore, but the Paladins would string together eight consecutive points to take a 18-11 lead and control of the set. Furman would go on to take the set, 25-18.
The Paladins would again take an early lead, opening the third set with an 8-5 advantage, but the Runnin' Bulldogs would fight back to tie the set at 13-13 on a service ace by
Charissa Coleman. Furman would again open a four-point lead at 20-16, but GWU would go on a 6-1 run to take a 22-21 lead after a block by Moore and
Maria Emmick. Furman would call a timeout and respond with a 4-1 run to take the set by a 25-23 score and the overall match win.
Gardner-Webb returns to action on Tuesday, September 19, opening Big South Conference play at UNC Asheville. The match is set for a 7:00 pm start time.
