BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. - The Gardner-Webb volleyball team (10-15, 2-7 Big South) romped to its tenth win of the season on Saturday afternoon, taking three straight sets to come from behind and beat visiting Radford (8-15, 4-5 Big South)

Gardner-Webb got off to a slow start but quickly erased it, dropping the first set 25-17 then winning three straight, 27-25, 25-21 and 27-25. Doing so, the Runnin' Bulldogs have reached double-digit wins for only the second time since 2017 and for the first time since 2023

The Runnin' Bulldogs dropped the first set, but still got some strong play from junior middle Milla Lugo and sophomore outside hitter Isabel Sandstrum, something that would become a trend as the match progressed. Lugo finished the contest with 11 kills, starting with a pair despite the opening set loss.

Down 19-13, Gardner-Webb rallied in a huge way to win the second 27-25 and swing back momentum. A huge 11-3 run was speared by two blocks and a kill from Lugo, but a block and a kill from junior outside hitter Nicole Osborne as well, suddenly taking GWU ahead 24-22. Freshman outside hitter Haedyn Crumbley wrapped things up with the final two kills in order

Gardner-Webb was largely dominant in the third, jumping out in front 17-12, then holding off a late Radford rally. Freshman middle Madison DeMink showed off the Gardner-Webb depth with a kill, one of 11 players to do so in the game for the Runnin' Bulldogs, as well as Osborne again. Redshirt freshman right side Alexis Maesch was perhaps the biggest story to emerge from the third set however, with the Avon, Ind. native posting four kills and two block assists in the set

The fourth set hung in the balance, but Gardner-Webb again showed an ability to close, closing out the match with the final three points in order. The fourth set would also be a bit of a microcosm of the entire match itself, with Lugo recording four of her 11 kills, Osbourne recording three, and GWU even getting a late service ace from sophomore setter Olivia Lefebvre to help set the tone. Back to back attack errors ended the match, as Gardner-Webb won 27-25, and 3-1 overall

LEADERS
Lugo posted 11 kills, seven blocks while Crumbley finished with nine kills, three blocks, and sophomore outside hitter Samia Sayd with eight kills, Lefebvre again led GWU with 26 assists, while graduate libero Nalani McBride finished with a team-high 29 digs

RECORD WATCH
In the second set on Saturday afternoon, McBride reached 1000 digs for her collegiate career between Gardner-Webb and Temple. The Stafford, Va. native had 488 digs in three years at Temple, and has 530 at Gardner-Webb just this season

FROM HEAD COACH ALEX HINSEY
I'm just so proud of our team. The way they stepped up today after last night's match, and really just coming out and taking care of business and buying into everything we've been talking about and saying and living by the model "win the day" and just going out and having fun and being a team

UP NEXT
Gardner-Webb makes a quick stop at Division II Lees-McRae on Tuesday night, October 28th at 7 pm before returning to Big South play against Charleston Southern on Friday, October 31st