ROCK HILL, S.C. - The Gardner-Webb volleyball team opens Big South play in 2025 on Friday night, making the short trip over to conference preseason favorites, Winthrop

GAME INFORMATION
Game 16: Gardner-Webb (7-8) at Winthrop (6-4)
Location: Winthrop Coliseum - Rock Hill, S.C.
Opening Serve: 6:00 pm
Most Recent Meeting: November 15th, 2024 - Winthrop 3, Gardner-Webb 0
Series History: Winthrop leads 35-4

MATCHUP NOTES

• Gardner-Webb is spearheaded by sophomore outside hitters Samia Sayd and Isabel Sandstrum on the attack. Sayd is second on the Runnin' Bulldogs with 104 kills this season, with Sandstrum right behind recording 99 so far. Sandstrum also leads the Big South in service aces, recording 26 to this point in the season
• Graduate libero Nalani McBride has been a standout performer for the Runnin' Bulldogs in her debut season with the team, with the Temple transfer leading the Big South by way of 311 digs and an average of nearly 5.50 per set. McBride is also top ten nationally in digs per set and fifth nationally in total digs and has been named Big South Libero of the week three times. With one dig on Friday night, McBride will also reach 800 for her college career
• Also on the defensive end, GWU has gotten strong contributions from junior middle Milla Lugo who has 43 block assists, freshman middle Brookelynn Nance who has recorded 37 and Sayd who has found her way to 26. Lugo currently ranks near the top of the Big South Conference with 56 total blocks.
• The duo of redshirt junior setter Sloane Rooney and sophomore setter Olivia Lefebvre have been excellent for Gardner-Webb this season and have combined for over 75% of the team's total assists, with Rooney leading the team with 286 assists, while Lefebvre has burst on to the scene as a sophomore with 246. Lefebvre meanwhile ranks second in the Big South to teammate Sandstrum with 17 service aces
• Freshman outside hitter Haedyn Crumbley has emerged as one of the best young players in the Big South, leading the Runnin' Bulldogs with 106 kills after a big weekend at the Wofford Invitational, to go along with 109 digs
• Despite nearly all of the season to this point spent away from Paul Porter Arena, Gardner-Webb has managed a 6-3 record in neutral site venues and has already surpassed last season's total wins
• Winthrop, picked as preseason joint-favorites in the Big South, are off to a 6-4 start, with impressive wins over Davidson, Queens and Western Carolina
• The Eagles have been excellent at home, winning all four matches in The Coliseum so far this season and dropping only five sets in the process
• In conference play, Winthrop is 24-4 over the last two seasons, appearing in the Big South Tournament title match in both 2023 and 2024