BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – Keira Moore and Nicole Celarek each had double-digit kills, as the Runnin' Bulldogs were able to hold off a comeback attempt by UNC Asheville to earn a 3-2 win on Tuesday evening.
 
Gardner-Webb (7-8, 1-2 Big South) took the match by scores of 25-23, 25-18, 14-25, 13-25, and 15-13.  UNC Asheville (6-8, 2-1 Big South) attacked at a .146 clip with 51 kills, but nine service errors and two blocking errors doomed the visiting Bulldogs.
 
"This match lived up to its title, as it was definitely a dog fight," said Gardner-Webb head coach Leo Sayles after the match.  "I am pleased that we were able to weather Asheville's comeback effort and settle down to compete again in the fifth set.  Our defense did a tremendous job keeping us in the match.  Keira Moore played a tremendous game offensively and defensively, and Amanda Sahm gave us another gutsy effort."
 
Moore led the Runnin' Bulldogs with 12 kills, while Celerek posted a double-double with 11 kills and 10 digs.  Moore and Kaelyn Dyson each had seven blocks to GWU, and Emma Milstead had a team-high 18 digs.  Amanda Sahm tallied a match-high 26 assists for the 'Dogs.
 
Asheville was led in kills by Cara Guthrie with 15, Madisen Zyburt had a match-high 25 digs, Cecilia Stack led the team with five blocks, and Carter Kennedy led the squad with 23 assists.
 
UNC Asheville opened the first set with a 7-3 run that led to a Gardner-Webb timeout.  The two teams would trade the next few points, and with the score sitting at 12-6 in UNC Asheville's favor, the Runnin' Bulldogs would answer with a string of five unanswered points to pull within one point at 12-11 on a block by Maria Emmick and Dyson. Asheville would maintain a lead until the 'Dogs would take a 23-22 lead on a block by Moore and Emmick.  GWU would take two of the next three points to claim the opening set by a 25-23 score.
 
Asheville would once again open with an early advantage in set number two, taking a 4-1 lead out of the gate.  Gardner-Webb would slowly chip away at the deficit, tying the match at 8-8 on a kill by Celarek and would take the lead at 10-9 on a bad set by UNC Asheville's Kennedy.  Asheville would tie the set two more times, but the Runnin' Bulldogs would seize control of the set with an 8-3 run, capped by a kill by Moore to take a 21-16 lead.  GWU would win the set by a score of 25-18, sealing it on a service ace by Abbey Sprinkle to hold a 2-0 advantage into intermission.
 
The visiting Bulldogs would take immediate control of the third set, opening with a 10-2 run.  GWU would score the next three points to pull within five at 10-5 after a Celarek kill, but they would not be able to shorten the deficit any further, as Asheville would go on to take the set by a score of 25-14.
 
The fourth set was much like the third, as UNC Asheville would open with a 10-3 run.   GWU would score four straight points midway through the set to cut the lead to five points at 14-9, but Asheville would answer with its own 5-0 run to seize control of the set, going on to win by a score of 25-13, setting up a decisive fifth set.
 
Gardner-Webb would start the final set with a 5-2 run, capped by a kill by Emmick.  GWU would lead by that same margin at 7-4 after a kill by Celarek, but Asheville would fight back with a 5-1 run to take a 9-8 lead.  GWU responded by taking the next two points, taking a 10-9 lead on a block by Moore, yet Asheville countered by taking the following two points to reclaim the lead at 11-10.  Gardner-Webb again scored the next two points to retake the lead at 12-11 on a Moore kill, and would not trail again for the remainder of the set, taking a 15-13 set win and the overall match victory.
 
The Runnin' Bulldogs return to action on Friday, September 29 at Charleston Southern.  The match is set for a 7:00 pm start time.