BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. - The Gardner-Webb University volleyball team fell at home on Saturday afternoon, losing 3-0 to visiting Charleston Southern in weekend Big South action

It came down to three narrow sets at Paul Porter Arena on Saturday afternoon, with the Runnin' Bulldogs losing by just a combined eight points across the three sets played. GWU held the lead in each frame in the contest, but were unable to put together the late runs needed to complete a victory.

In the first, GWU jumped out to a 16-10 lead at the first media timeout. The strong early performance from the Runnin' Bulldogs was sparked by key play from several Runnin' Bulldogs, including Isabel Sandstrum who placed two early kills with perfection. Despite Charleston Southern responding with an 8-2 run out of the break, the 'Dawgs still held a 20-19 lead after a kill by junior setter Morgan Hornaday. What followed was a strong close from the visitors as the Red and Black fell 25-22.

In the second, it was the turn of Charleston Southern to jump out to a big lead as the Buccaneers exploded to lead Gardner-Webb 20-11. What followed this time was some of the best play perhaps of the entire season from GWU, as the 'Dawgs battled back to take the lead behind an 11-0 run. In the sequence, not only did Hornaday continue a strong weekend with a pair of service aces, but freshman outside hitter Samia Sayd came up huge with three kills. Back and fourth action continued from there, but it was Charleston Southern gutting out a 27-25 win and a 2-0 lead.

The Runnin' Bulldogs once again led early and late in the third set, but a strong response from Charleston Southern allowed the visitors to wrap up with the match with a 25-21 win. Graduate middle Alivia Rew played a major part for GWU early on, with the Curtice, Ohio native notching a block and multiple of what would be seven kills in the contest, second most for Gardner-Webb in the game. Despite one of those kills bringing the Red and Black to within two, CSU closed the door with the final two points of the match.

Leaders for Gardner-Webb include sophomore libero Molly Littlefield with a career high 41 digs, Sayd with 10 kills, Rew with three solo blocks, and junior setter Rebecca Siedenburg with 15 assists, the second most in the entire match.

GWU Volleyball now turns attention to UNC Asheville, with a rescheduled match now set for Tuesday, October 29th at 6 p.m. inside Paul Porter Arena.