CLINTON, S.C. - The Gardner-Webb volleyball team (8-13, 1-5 Big South) battled through a marathon first set, eventually falling 3-0 on the road at Presbyterian (5-13, 1-5 Big South) in Friday night Big South action

The first set was perhaps the biggest story on Friday night, with Presbyterian and Gardner-Webb battling to a 28-26 final score. That would set the tone for the rest of the night, with Presbyterian taking the second 25-18 and the third 25-21

Gardner-Webb dove into its rotation and started strong, out to an early 7-4 lead. Sophomore outside hitter Caroline Franklin recorded a pair of early kills. The Runnin' Bulldogs led as late as 23-20, with freshman middle Brookelynn Nance punching her sixth kill of the opening frame, but an 8-3 run by the Blue Hose down the stretch, including the last three points in a row, gave PC the first set 28-26. Gardner-Webb was unable to convert on set point at 24-23 and 26-25.

Sophomore outside hitter Isabel Sandstrum fired GWU out of a cannon to begin the second, with back-to-back kills and a 3-0 lead. Presbyterian responded with two separate 6-0 runs however to pull away, with Gardner-Webb getting no closer than a point after falling behind 13-7. Sandstrum led the Runnin' Bulldogs with three kills in the frame.

The Blue Hose jumped out to a 9-5 lead early in the third, and halted a couple of key Gardner-Webb rallies to end the match. Sandstrum recorded back-to-back service aces to bring the set to a 12-12 tie from down four, and sophomore outside hitter Samia Sayd got GWU within two late. With the final two points, Presbyterian closed out Gardner-Webb to win 25-21, and 3-0.

LEADERS
Sayd and Nance led GWU with seven kills each, sophomore setter Olivia Lefebvre recorded 20 assists for her sixth 20-assist game in Big South play, graduate libero Nalani McBride finished with 21 digs, while Sandstrum posted five service aces

UP NEXT
Gardner-Webb is back in action on Saturday at 2:00 pm, taking on Charleston Southern in the Buc Dome