WILMINGTON, N.C. - The Gardner-Webb University women's volleyball team defeated Charlotte early on Friday afternoon before dropping a late contest against UNC-Wilmington, earning a doubleheader split in action at the UNC-W University Invitational.

Game One - Gardner-Webb 3, Charlotte 1

The Runnin' Bulldogs pulled off one of the best performances of the season so far early on Friday afternoon, defeating Charlotte by a 3-1 score. The Red and Black trailed early but rallied to win three straight sets to take the victory. All four sets were close, but GWU came up with several clutch plays down the stretch to pick up the result.

After losing the opening set, GWU stormed back to win 25-20 in the second. It wasn't without its dramatics, as the Runnin' Bulldogs closed with a 6-0 sprint to the finish line. Redshirt sophomore outside hitter Cayton White was front and center, picking up a service ace and forcing on attack error on Charlotte in the final sequence.

The third set was highlighted by a series of back and forth runs. Another kill from White allowed Gardner-Webb to take an early 8-4 lead, but an 8-0 run by Charlotte later on put GWU behind 15-13. The Runnin' Bulldogs again rallied however, scoring seven of the final nine points in the set to win 26-24. Freshman outside hitter Isabel Sandstrum brought the house down with a final kill to win the set for the Red and Black.

Finally in the fourth, GWU put together a tape to tape win, ending the contest with a 25-21 win which they only ever trailed 1-0. That first Charlotte point was followed by seven in a row for Gardner-Webb, with an ace by redshirt junior middle blocker Kyla Davis being the spark. Redshirt sophmore libero Molly Littlefield added an ace of her own late on, as the Runnn' Bulldogs held off a Charlotte comeback to win 3-1.

Game Two - UNC-Wilmington 3, Gardner-Webb 0

Much like the opening game, all sets were close in game two, but this time the Runnin' Bulldogs were unable to close the deal in a 3-0 defeat.

In the first set, the two sides traded blows early before a late run by UNC-Wilimington largely put things away. A couple of attack errors by the Seahawks suddenly had Gardner-Webb ahead 13-9, but UNC-Wilmington followed with a 7-0 run. Junior setter Rebecca Siedenburg found White for a kill to tie the score at 23-23 deep into the set, but the Seahawks closed with the final two points to win 25-23.

The second set was again back and forth, with a quick start by the Runnin' Bulldogs turning into the teams trading points back and forth. It would come down to the closing stretch again however, with UNC-Wilmington finishing on a 4-0 run to win 25-20.

Finally, much the same story in the third set, except for a near-very-late rally by Gardner-Webb. Down 22-18, the Runnin' Bulldogs came alive for six straight points to re-take the lead, 24-22. Freshman outside hitter Caroline Franklin played her part in the sequence, with three kills in quick order. GWU was unable to get across the line however, as four straight points saw the Seahawks win 26-24, and sweep the match 3-0.

Up Next
Gardner-Webb volleyball returns to action next weekend, facing Fairleigh Dickinson, Morgan State and George Mason across two days in Fairfax, Va.