BOILING SPRINGS – Gardner-Webb opened Big South Conference play against Charleston Southern on Thursday night, falling to Charleston Southern in three sets inside Paul Porter Arena.
 
The Buccaneers earned set wins of 25-21, 25-16 and 25-10, respectively.
 
Mikayla Logan paced the Runnin' Bulldogs with eight kills on .235 hitting. She added three blocks, tied for a team-high with McKenna Timmerman and Kylee Garrison.
 
Avery Cole added seven kills, Timmerman had five and Garrison finished with four to go along with 11 digs. Sophia Bolden led GWU in the digs category with 12, while Morgan Hornaday and Tori Weatherley each tallied a team-leading 10 assists.
 
Gardner-Webb took an early 3-0 lead in the first set, and later used a 6-1 run to re-take a 15-14 advantage anchored by three kills from Logan and another from Cole. The two sides traded points for the next several serves, logging five ties leading to a 20-20 score, but the Bucs ended the frame on a 5-1 run to earn the first set before going on to pick up comfortable wins in sets two and three.
 
The Runnin' Bulldogs hit .038 as a team with 26 kills, eight blocks, 25 assists and three service aces – two from Bolden and one from Kayla Hawkins.
 
Gardner-Webb will return to action on Friday for its "Stand Against Racism" game against Campbell. All fans are encouraged to wear black to help the Runnin' Bulldogs show support for the cause. First serve is scheduled for 6 p.m. inside Paul Porter Arena.