LYNCHBURG, Va. – After winning its season-opener on Friday, Gardner-Webb volleyball (1-2) rounded out play at the Liberty Tournament with back-to-back matches on Saturday, August 26. The Runnin' Bulldogs dropped games to Liberty University (2-0) and Bucknell University (1-2), wrapping up the first weekend of the 2023 regular season. 
 
"All in all, it was a good first tournament for us", said Head Coach Eric Plunkett. "We played three great teams and each one stressed us differently. We need to continue to find consistency in execution."
 
The Runnin' Bulldogs (1-2) opened the day with a straight-set loss to Liberty and swiftly returned to the floor to face off against Bucknell, which resulted in a 3-1 victory for the Bison. After a strong .265 hitting percentage and 42 kills against Stony Brook on Friday, Gardner-Webb struggled with a .053 hitting percentage against Liberty and a .066 hitting percentage against Bucknell.
 
Freshmen outside hitter Jenna Otts recorded another double-digit kill performance against Bucknell with 14. She picked up seven kills on a .250 hitting percentage in the earlier performance against the Flames. 
 
Sophomore middle Lovie Wallace ended the final day of the tournament with a combined .371 hitting percentage, while registering nine kills and five blocks versus Bucknell. 
 
The 'Dawgs battled against the Flames in set two after falling in set one, with the four total lead changes occurring in the game. Liberty would pull away with a tight 25-22 victory leading them to a straight-set sweep. 
 
After falling in the first set to Bucknell, despite taking the game to extra points, the Runnin' Bulldogs responded with a 26-24 battle to even the contest. Otts and Wallace combined for 12 kills in set two, where the 'Dawgs found their rhythm on a .227 hitting percentage and 16 kills. The Bison would manage to take the following two sets to secure their first victory of the tournament. This contest would also result in 25 tie scores and 13 lead changes.
 
"We have so many great plays but need to repeat them", said Plunkett. "A lot of our players got their first taste of Division 1 volleyball and I think we are in the right part of the process, just have to keep grinding."
 
Gardner-Webb returns to the floor next Friday, Sep. 1 on the road against North Carolina Central University at 6:00 p.m. in Durham, N.C.