GREENSBORO, N.C. - The Gardner-Webb volleyball team returns to the court for the 2025 season this weekend, taking on Sacred Heart, Queens, and UNC Greensboro as part of the UNCG Spartan Classic

WEEKEND INFORMATION
Game 1: Sacred Heart vs Gardner-Web - 10:00 am, Friday
Game 2: Queens vs Gardner-Webb - 4:30 pm, Friday
Game 3: Gardner-Webb at UNC Greensboro - 4:00 pm, Saturday
Location: Flemming Gymnasium - Greensboro, N.C.
Video: ESPN Plus (Game 3 only)

GARDNER-WEBB NOTES

• Of the Runnin' Bulldogs full 21 player roster, Gardner-Webb returns seven players while also welcoming 10 freshman and another redshirt freshman
• Among the returnees are sophomore outside hitter Isabel Sandstrum, who is the team's active leader in several major statistical categories. One of the star freshmen in the Big South last fall, Sandstrum was named to the All-Big South Freshman Team for her contributions, bursting on the scene in 2024 with 193 total kills, 216.5 points, 138 digs and 29 total blocks.
• Sophomore outside hitter Samia Sayd is also back for Gardner-Webb and is once again expected to feature strongly in the Gardner-Webb rotation. The Falls Church, Va. native tallied 119 kills for GWU last fall, including a pair of games with double digit kills against Norfolk State and Charleston Southern
• On the right side, sophomore outside hitter Caroline Franklin is also among the strong cast of returning players. Franklin recorded 91.5 points, 86 kills last fall as a freshman for the Runnin' Bulldogs, including a season best 14 against Charleston Southern in October
• Redshirt junior setter Sloane Rooney is also back for another season for GWU, and is expected to anchor Gardner-Webb defensively. The Bloomsbury, N.J. native is the team's active leader with 255 assists a year ago, while also recording 109 digs
• Newcomers for Gardner-Webb this season include graduate transfer Nalani McBride, who arrives from Temple. McBride was previously a regular in the Owls rotation, playing 87 games over the last three seasons, including 30 last season where she averaged 5.5 digs per game
• Wrapping up the weekend on Saturday afternoon, UNC Greensboro and Gardner-Webb will meet for the seventh time and the first since 2010. The Runnin' Bulldogs have won three in a row in the series, in 2004, 2006 and in 2010
• Since Queens moved to NCAA Division I, Gardner-Webb and the Charlotte-area program have met just once, a 3-1 Runnin' Bulldogs win in Charlotte in 2023
• The furthest to travel of the four schools at the Spartan Classic, Sacred Heart has seen Gardner-Webb on the court just twice all time. The two programs have split meetings in 2005 and 2017, with a 3-2 Runnin' Bulldogs win at Sacred Heart in 2005 and a 3-2 Pioneers' win in Harrisonburg, Va. in 2017

COVERAGE
Gardner-Webb will face Sacred Heart and Queens to open the tournament on Friday, with live stats available for both games. On Saturday, the Runnin' Bulldogs matchup with UNC Greensboro will be streamed via ESPN Plus. Full weekend tournament coverage and information can be found here