BOONE, N.C. - The Gardner-Webb University volleyball team dropped both ends of a non-conference doubleheader on Friday afternoon, with a 3-0 loss to Kennesaw State and a 3-0 loss to East Tennessee State in the Mountaineer Classic

Despite a strong second set rally, it wouldn't be enough in the first game of the day against Kennesaw State. The Runnin' Bulldogs lost the first set 25-16, before a close second. In the second, Gardner-Webb used a 7-0 run to take a momentary 17-15 lead, after initially going behind 10-4. That quick run was cued up by a series of attack errors in a row by Kennesaw State. 

The Owls eventually escaped with a 25-21 win in the second, before putting the match away with a 25-12 win in the third. Overall in the contest, graduate Alivia Rew and freshman Isabel Sandstrum led the Runnin' Bulldogs with five kills each.

In the late game, the Runnin' Bulldogs kept things close in the first and third sets before the Buccaneers finished the contest. Gardner-Webb trailed for much of the first set before rallying to bring the score within four late, down just 23-19. From there, ESTU nabbed the last two points.

Trailing 2-0, the third set went the distance where GWU came up short 27-25. The Runnin' Bulldogs kept the pressure on, with ETSU taking three swings at match point before Gardner-Webb leveled the score at 25 each. ETSU grabbed the last two points of the contest for a 3-0 result.

Redshirt sophomore Clayton White and sophomore Milla Lugo joined Sandstrum with a team-high four kills for the Red and Black.

The Runnin' Bulldogs wrap up the Mountainer Classic on Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m. against hosts Appalachian State.