Box Score NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. –  The Gardner-Webb University volleyball team scored its first Big South win of the season on Friday night, defeating Charleston Southern 3-1 away from home.
 
It was a pair of narrow set wins that ultimately propelled the Runnin' Bulldogs to a first win in Big South play this season, with 25-22 and 26-24 margins in set one and set three respectively setting the tone for the rest of the match at the Buc Dome.
 
GWU got off to a strong start in the first, using back-to-back service errors on CSU to take an early 9-8 lead. However, a lengthy run by the Buccaneers reversed that trend, putting Gardner-Webb in a 14-10 hole. But as became one of the game's biggest trends, the Runnin' Bulldogs fought back to lead again. Graduate middle Alivia Rew put the exclamation mark on a 5-2 run by the 'Dawgs, springing GWU back in front 19-18. 
 
Good play in short spurts continued for the Red and Black to close the first, with three straight points being the deciding factor. Freshman setter Olivia Lefebvre connected with redshirt sophomore outside hitter Cayton White for back-to-back kills at the finish line, handing Gardner-Webb a 25-22 win and a 1-0 lead.
 
The Runnin' Bulldogs dropped a close second set, 25-19. It wouldn't be without its drama however, with GWU once again on the comeback trail. Down 22-15, the Runnin' Bulldogs rallied for four consecutive points, three of them with an assist by junior setter Rebecca Siedebburg, pulling the score back to 22-19. Despite a strong effort, CSU did close out the second set to tie the match at 1-1.
 
In a contest that left little room for error, Gardner-Webb answered the call in a big way in the third. After Charleston Southern jumped ahead 3-0, neither side would lead by more than two the rest of the way, with the apex being a 24-24 tie.
 
But once again, Siedenbrug stepped up in a big way for the Runnin' Bulldogs. After a kill by junior outside hitter Isabella Raciunas got GWU to set point at 25-24, Siedenburg placed an inch perfect serve over the net for an ace. With that, the Red and Black pulled ahead 2-1 with a 26-24 win.
 
The trend of close sets finished off by Gardner-Webb continued with a 25-23 win for the Runnin' Bulldogs, finishing off a complete team victory. Contributions came from all over in the fourth, with freshman outside hitter Samia Sayd scoring the last two kills of the match, the last assisted by sophomore libero Molly Littlefield.
 
Leaders for Gardner-Webb include White who finished with a career-high 23 kills, Raciunas who hit a scorching .526% and junior setter Morgan Hornaday who racked up 26 assists, just ahead of Lefebvre with 21. Littlefield and senior libero Kayla Hawkins were stars defensively as well, with the duo scoring 21 and 19 digs respectively.

Next up, Gardner-Webb visits Presbyterian on Saturday, October 12th at 4 p.m.