BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – A late rally in the fourth set sparked a Gardner-Webb comeback as the Runnin' Bulldogs defeated visiting Presbyterian in five sets in Big South Conference play Saturday afternoon.
 
Gardner-Webb (1-2, 1-2 Big South) took the opening set over Presbyterian (0-3, 0-3 Big South) by a 25-20 score, but the Blue Hose responded by taking the following two sets, 25-13 and 25-21.
 
Presbyterian looked to wrap up the afternoon in four sets, holding a 20-18 lead late in the frame.  A decisive kill by Mikah McIntosh opened a string of five unanswered points by the Runnin' Bulldogs, including four consecutive service aces by Kylee Garrison that put GWU on top by a 23-20 margin.
 
Gardner-Webb would not trail for the remainder of the afternoon, taking the fourth set by a 25-21 margin, setting up the decisive fifth set.
 
The 'Dogs opened the final set with a 6-0 run, highlighted by a pair of smashes by Madison Deslatte.  Presbyterian closed within three points at 7-4, but GWU responded with another 6-0 run, capped by an Alexandria Roycraft kill that set the score at 13-4. 

Gardner-Webb went on to take the set by a 15-6 score, scoring the match point on another kill by Roycraft to earn the team's first win of the 2021 Spring season.  It was also Gardner-Webb's first five-set victory since a 3-2 win over Middle Tennessee State on September 14, 2018 at the Wofford Invitational in Spartanburg, S.C.
 
Gardner-Webb totaled 50 kills on the day on 151 swings, hitting at a .132 clip, while Presbyterian totaled 47 kills on 143 attempts, attacking at a .147 rate.
 
McIntosh and Garrison led the Runnin' Bulldogs with 12 kills each, followed by 11 kills by Deslatte.  Tori Weatherley dished out a match-high 41 assists.
 
Roycraft led the 'Dogs on the block with seven total stops, while McIntosh also led the team with 20 digs, followed by 18 by Garrison.
 
Erin Cooke paced the Blue Hose with 14 kills, with Sierra Jones leading her team with 21 assists.
 
Allie Wright had six total blocks for PC, while Anna Hewitt had a match-high 24 digs.
 
Both teams will square off again tomorrow afternoon at noon inside Paul Porter Arena.  The match will be broadcast live on ESPN+ (WatchESPN.com / ESPN App).