SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Rounding out the Wofford Invitational with one final match on Sunday afternoon, the Gardner-Webb volleyball team made quick work of South Carolina State University, downing the Bulldogs in straight sets from Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium in Spartanburg, S.C.
The Runnin' Bulldogs (3-4) hit a season-high .221 with 33 kills on 95 attacks, adding six service aces, seven blocks 32 assists and 52 digs.
Mikah McIntosh and
Madison Deslatte, who hit a team-high .357, led the way for GWU with seven kills apiece.
Hannah Donaldson hit .333 and racked up six kills and four blocks, and
Lauryn Rocassin added six kills and a game-high 16 assists. McIntosh also paced the 'Dogs with 15 digs while
Sophia Bolden added 12 of her own.
Following the match, Rocassin and Donaldson were named to the Wofford Invitational All-Tournament Team.
2021 Wofford Invitational All-Tournament Team
Kendal Rivera, SC State
Chelsea Cole, SC State
Lauryn Rocassin, GWU
Hannah Donaldson, GWU
Kamryn Parsonage, UNA
Maggie Sullivan, UNA
Addison Foote, Wofford
Sarah Barham, Wofford
Emily Hodsdon, Wofford - Tournament MVP
Looking to cap off this weekend's tournament with a win, Gardner-Webb made easy work of all three sets on the afternoon, including a dominant 25-9 effort in the opening frame. After trailing 3-2 early on, the 'Dogs surged to a 9-1 run to take commanding 11-4 advantage, an edge that continue to steadily grow as the set progressed.
Despite the Runnin' Bulldogs jumping out to a 14-7 lead in set two, South Carolina State managed to mount a comeback with a 6-0 run of its own to come all the way back to within a point, 15-14. But Gardner-Webb fended off the push – SC State's fiercest of the day – to regather a six-point advantage and comfortably take the second set, 25-19.
Set three then proved to be another commanding frame similar to the first. Leading 7-4, Gardner-Webb won the next nine points in a row, before
Makena Phillips and
Madison Deslatte ultimately capped off a 12-1 run with a pair of kills to put the game out of reach.
Gardner-Webb finished the weekend at the Wofford Invitational at 1-2 following losses on Saturday to North Alabama and Wofford. GWU also notched its third victory of the young season under first-year head coach
Eric Plunkett, just one shy of last year's total of four.
The Runnin' Bulldogs return to action next weekend with one final tournament before the start Big South Conference play. As one of four teams competing in the Pirate Invitational, Gardner-Webb is set to begin play against East Carolina on Friday, Sept. 17 at 1:30 p.m. with a second match scheduled afterwards against Appalachian State at 5 p.m.
