RADFORD, VA - The Gardner-Webb volleyball team (8-9, 1-1 Big South) started its Big South weekend strong on Friday night, posting a 3-0 sweep at Radford (4-12, 0-2 Big South) for its first conference win of the season

The Runnin' Bulldogs wasted little time on Friday night in the Dedmon Center, jumping out in front with a 25-17 first set win. GWU then scratched out a pair of tight 25-23 wins in the second and third set to complete the sweep.

In the first, after Radford climbed back to force a 10-10 tie, Gardner-Webb hit back with a 7-2 run to put the set out of reach. GWU was aided by four attack errors on the Highlanders, but also nabbed two kills from redshirt junior outside hitter Serena Kohler. Gardner-Webb finished the set in style, with a pair of service aces from Kohler and sophomore setter Olivia Lefebvre sandwiching two more Radford errors, resulting in a 25-17 win.

The second set saw Radford jump in front 7-3 before a quick 5-0 run allowed Gardner-Webb to bring back an 8-8 tie. From there, neither side built a lead of more than just two points as the lead ping-ponged until the Dawgs were on the doorstep of a win, one it did eventually get, 25-23. Part of a career night where she crushed 10 kills on 19 attempts and hit .526%, junior middle Milla Lugo delivered the winning point to put Gardner-Webb up 2-0.

Much like the second, Radford led early, Gardner-Webb responded, then after going back and forth for most of the set, the Dawgs scratched out a 25-23 win to finish off a road sweep. GWU led 1-0, then didn't lead again until 15-14 after Lefebvre recorded one of her 29 assists on a Kohler kill. Lugo then added an exclamation point to her big individual night as the Runnin' Bulldogs crossed the finish line, with the Anderson, S.C. taking an assist from Lefebvre each time to kill the last three points for Gardner-Webb.

LEADERS
Lugo finished with a team-high 10 kills, with Kohler recording eight for Gardner-Webb, Lefebvre was outstanding, following up a career-high 30 assists at Winthrop with 29 of the Dawgs 35 as a team, while on the defensive end, graduate libero Nalani McBride added to her nation-leading tally with 18 digs

UP NEXT
GWU returns to action on Saturday, October 4th as Big South play continues at High Point