BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. - The Gardner-Webb volleyball team (12-19, 3-11 Big South) ended its 2025 season on Friday night, falling 3-2 to league-leading Winthrop (18-6, 12-2 Big South) in a heartbreaking nail-biter

The first set on Friday would be a sign of things to come, with Gardner-Webb nearly overturning a big early deficit to bring the frame down to the wire. Down 24-16 late on, the Runnin' Bulldogs rallied and set the tone for the second and third, putting together a late 4-0 run, sparked by redshirt junior outside hitter Serena Kohler. Winthrop did close, but only at 25-20

Gardner-Webb rode that momentum to a huge start in the second set, eventually tying the match at 1-1. Sparked this time by two kills from freshman outside hitter Haedyn Crumbley, GWU immediately got in front 5-0. Despite Winthrop fighting back for a couple ties, Gardner-Webb never trailed in the second. The Runnin' Bulldogs put the set away with a 9-2 run after Winthrop tied things at 12-12, with Kohler and redshirt freshman outside hitter Alexis Maesch notching multiple kills in the sequence. Two attack errors on the Eagles back-to-back eventually ensured a 25-20 win for the Runnin' Bulldogs

Gardner-Webb once again started fast in the third, on its way to a 2-1 match lead. The Runnin' Bulldogs scored each of the next four points after Winthrop went ahead 1-0, with Kohler and Maesch again at the center of the action. The teams mostly ping-ponged points and neither side led by more than just two until Gardner-Webb squeaked out in front just enough down the stretch. Trailing 21-20, Crumbley rose for back-to-back kills and four of the final five GWU points, as the Runnin' Bulldogs took set three 25-22.

Neither side would lead by more than four in an incredibly tight fourth set, eventually won by Winthrop to extend the match. With the benefit of three Winthrop errors, Gardner-Webb got out in front quickly again, this time 7-3. Winthrop hit back to eventually lead 18-16. That would be enough for the Eagles, despite some Gardner-Webb resilience. The Runnin' Bulldogs never let Winthrop lead by more than a couple points but after freshman middle hitter Madison DeMink made the score 19-18, the two teams again traded points until Winthrop closed to win 25-22, and send the match to a fifth set

In the fifth, the teams once again mostly traded points, with Winthrop in front just 8-7 at the halfway mark. The Eagles got out in front 11-8 and seemed to be in control, but Gardner-Webb just wouldn't let them get away. With another kill from Maesch and another from Crumbley, GWU clawed back to down just 11-10 and brought Paul Porter Arena to its feet. Despite the strong effort, Winthrop reached 15 first, closing the match as Gardner-Webb fell 15-12 in the fifth

LEADERS
Gardner-Webb got contributions from all over the court, including Kohler with 17 kills, 12 digs, 12 assists for a triple-double, Crumbley with 13 kills, seven digs, Maesch with 12 kills, five digs, and sophomore outside hitter Caroline Franklin with 10 kills, two blocks. Junior middle Milla Lugo was big on the mostly defensive end as well, with two block assists, eight digs and six kills. In the assist column, sophomore setter Olivia Lefebvre posted 33 assists, just shy of a season-high and finished with a double-double after recording 12 digs

RECORD CHASE
Graduate libero Nalani McBride finished the game with 21 digs, concluding her lone season at Gardner-Webb with 653 total. McBride finishes the regular season as both the Big South Conference leader and NCAA Division I leader in total digs, while recording the second most digs in a single season in Gardner-Webb history