BUIES CREEK, N.C. - The Gardner-Webb volleyball team battled all contest long against Campbell on Friday night, coming from behind on multiple occasions, before suffering a narrow 3-2 defeat on the road to open the Fairfield Inn and Suites Dunn Campbell Invitational

The opening set on Friday night will go down as one of the most memorable of the entire season, as the Runnin' Bulldogs stormed back from down as many as six points to win a 34-32 marathon. Once falling behind, sophomore outside hitters Samia Sayd and Isabel Sandstrum ignited the comeback, with a couple kills from each eventually helping to turn a six point deficit into a 24-23 Dawgs lead. The two sides would trade points before Gardner-Webb closed with four of the final five to steal set one. Down 31-30, Sandstrum would go back to back with freshman outside hitter Haedyn Crumbley to put GWU in front 32-31. One quick Campbell point sandwiched two more for the Runnin' Bulldogs, as redshirt freshman Alexis Maesch went back-to-back with Sandstrum once again, handing Gardner-Webb a wild 34-32 win. Sandstrum would lead the way with seven kills in the first set for Gardner-Webb.

The Runnin' Bulldogs then fell behind in the match, as Campbell rallied to win the second set 25-14 and the third set 27-25 on its home court. The third set was particularly close, as Gardner-Webb came within a point of taking the set for itself after holding a late 24-23 lead. Campbell then closed with four of the final five points to take a 2-1 lead in the match.

As they had for the entire night however, Gardner-Webb continued to rally and forced a winner-take-all fifth set with a 24-22 win in the fourth, tying the match at 2-2. The Runnin' Bulldogs used an 8-2 run in the middle of the frame to get some distance between themselves and Campbell that would stick for good. That big run was sparked by sophomore setter Olivia Lefebvre who across five Gardner-Webb points in a row, provided three assists and two service aces. Crumbley continued an excellent night down the stretch with a kill to get GWU to set point, before a bad Campbell serve gave the Runnin' Bulldogs the win and moved the match to a fifth set.

Once again Gardner-Webb rallied, this time from 6-2 down in the race to 15 points, eventually taking a very late 13-12 lead. Lefebvre was once again in the middle of the action, with back-to-back services aces to put Gardner-Webb in front 7-6. Redshirt junior setter Sloane Rooney then set up Maesch and Sandstrum back-to-back moments later as the Runnin' Bulldogs approached the brink of victory. Campbell would rally themselves however, scoring the final three points of the night, as Gardner-Webb fell 15-13 in the fifth and 3-2 in the match.

LEADERS
Sandstrum, Crumbley and Maesch all notched double figure kills for the Runnin' Bulldogs, with Sandstrum posting a team-high 14, while Crumbley and Maesch finished with 12 each. Sandstrum also completed a double-double, adding 14 digs in the box score. Graduate libero Nalani McBride continued an excellent start to her Gardner-Webb career with a season-best 30 digs as well as five assists. Rooney finished just shy of a game-high with 29 assists, while Lefebvre pitched in with 17 with the duo combining for 45 of the Runnin' Bulldogs 56 for the game.

UP NEXT
The Fairfield Inn and Suites Dunn Campbell Invitational continues on Saturday, as the Runnin' Bulldogs face UNC Greensboro at 10:30 am in Buies Creek, followed by a match-up with Norfolk State at 4 pm.