ANNAPOLIS, MD - The Gardner-Webb volleyball team ran its win streak to five games, the most since 2016, and finished off a complete weekend sweep at the Navy Invitational on Saturday afternoon, dispatching Hampton by a 3-1 score

After losing the first set 25-19 on Saturday, Gardner-Webb made rather quick work of Hampton to turn the match around, winning 25-17 in the second, 25-18 in the third, then finishing off with a 25-21 victory in the fourth to wrap up the match

Down 1-0 after losing the first set, the Runnin' Bulldogs came out firing to the tune of a 5-0 run to begin the second. The quick-run was highlighted by a pair of service aces in the middle, then a kill from sophomore outside hitter Caroline Franklin. Gardner-Webb never let Hampton get any closer than three, eventually closing with a 3-0 run and back to back kills from sophomore outside hitter Samia Sayd, leveling the match at 1-1.

Gardner-Webb saved its best for the middle of the third, with a 5-1 run giving the Dawgs some distance that Hampton would be unable to claw back. Another kill from Franklin got things started ahead of a service ace by freshman libero Annabelle Sims. Three straight errors on Hampton then put GWU in front 9-5. Hampton never got closer than three down the stretch, as Gardner-Webb took a 2-1 lead in the match.

GWU wrapped things up shortly after, coming from down as big as 10-4, firing out a 6-1 run late, and winning the fourth set in style to win the match. Down early, junior middle Milla Lugo recorded five of her game-high 11 kills just in the fourth set alone to get the Dawgs back in the contest, while freshman middle Brookelynn Nance was instrumental as well with four kills in the frame. One final error on Hampton completed the match and made it five straight wins for the Runnin' Bulldogs

LEADERS
Lugo finished as the only GWU player with double-digit kills, posting 11, while Franklin and Nance recorded eight each. Redshirt setter Sloane Rooney was excellent, with 26 assists, her fourth game in a row and sixth game this season above 20, while defensively, graduate libero Nalani McBride was scored with 11 digs

UP NEXT
The Runnin' Bulldogs are back closer to home from Thursday, September 18th to Saturday, September 20th, taking part in thw Wofford Invitational next week against Wofford, Northern Arizona, The Citadel and Marshall