BUIES CREEK, N.C. – Facing the first-place team with an undefeated record in the Big South this season, Gardner-Webb came within a single point of handing Campbell its first league loss on Friday night, but fell to the Fighting Camels in a dramatic five-set thriller on the road, 3-2 (16-25, 25-23, 19-25, 25-23, 15-17).
 
Trailing 2-1 after three sets, the Runnin' Bulldogs (5-16, 3-6 Big South) came charging back to nearly stun Campbell (14-8, 10-0 Big South) in front of its home crowd. After tying the match at two sets apiece, the Dawgs held a lead for almost the entirety of the fifth set and forced match point with a 14-12 advantage before seeing the Camels close on a 5-1 run to escape with a 17-15 victory in the decisive final frame.
 
Gardner-Webb won both sets two and four by scores of 25-23 and ultimately pushed Campbell to the brink, something no other Big South team has been able to accomplish this season. CU has been forced to five sets only twice in conference action during the current campaign, with GWU becoming the only opponent to force a match point against the reigning league champions on Friday night.
 
"I told the team after the match how proud I was of their fight and battle tonight," said head coach Eric Plunkett. To go toe-to-toe with the top Big South team on their home court was awesome. We obviously want to be on the other side of the result, but we are going to take a lot from this match and put it towards the rest of conference play."
 
Kylee Garrison had another monster performance for the Runnin' Bulldogs as the graduate outside hitter posted a team-high 16 kills and five blocks while capping off a double-double outing with 14 digs.
 
Two other GWU first-year standouts also posted double-digit kills as McKenna Timmerman recorded 12 followed by Avery Cole with 10 to go along with four blocks.
 
As a team, Gardner-Webb had a big night at the net defensively, tying a season-high with 19 total blocks. Delaney McCullough led the way as the senior middle registered seven of her own, one shy of a season-high while rounding out her third contest with five or more blocks in the last six matches she has appeared in. She also added seven kills.
 
The Runnin' Bulldogs combined to hit at .183 for the night in comparison to a .201 clip for Campbell. Mikayla Logan also had a strong performance with nine kills on .368 hitting, while Morgan Hornaday dished out a team-high 42 assists and Sophia Kotsovolos dug out a squad-leading 26 digs. Hornaday added 11 digs of her own to notch a double-double, the freshman's fifth of the season, with Kayla Hawkins tallying 12 and Sophia Bolden tacking on 10.
 
Eager to return to the court, Gardner-Webb will play its second of back-to-back road matches on Saturday when the Runnin' Bulldogs head to Charleston Southern looking for revenge over the Buccaneers. First serve is slated for 2 p.m.