Gardner-Webb University
7-4,0-0Big South
Austin Peay
6-5,0-0UAC
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gardner-Webb | 26 | 22 | 25 | 25 | 3 |
| Austin Peay | 24 | 25 | 14 | 21 | 1 |
Gardner-Webb Sweeps Friday Doubleheader at Strive for Greatness Invitational
September 18, 2026 | Volleyball
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Match 1: Gardner-Webb 3, Austin Peay 1
In Friday's opener, Gardner-Webb dropped the second set but controlled the tempo late to secure a 3-1 win (26-24, 22-25, 25-14, 25-21) over the Governors.Â
The Runnin' Bulldogs hitting attack found its rhythm in the final two frames, posting 16 kills in the third set (.324) and 18 kills in the fourth (.300). Samia Sayd delivered an efficient offensive outing, terminating a team-high 15 kills on a .378 hitting percentage. Kiera Vazquez added nine kills, while Sarina Galyean and Emma Kerwin chipped in eight kills apiece.Â
Aleina Manaois anchored the defense with a team-high 20 digs while adding 18 assists. Ella Moss tallied 19 digs, and setter Olivia Lefebvre registered a double-double with 13 assists and 14 digs. At the net, Caroline Franklin made her presence felt with five kills, four block assists, one solo block, and three service aces.
Match 2: Gardner-Webb 3, Southern Illinois 2
In the afternoon finale, the Runnin' Bulldogs battled back from a 2-1 set deficit to outlast Southern Illinois in five sets (20-25, 26-28, 25-16, 25-17, 15-5).Â
After dropping a tight 28-26 second set, Gardner-Webb dominated the remainder of the match. GWU held the Salukis to .000 hitting in set three and forcing a negative hitting percentage (-.125) in the decisive fifth set. The Runnin' Bulldogs closed out the match error-free in the fifth frame, executing seven kills on 14 swings (.500) to complete the 15-5 set win.
Sarina Galyean and Emma Kerwin co-led the squad with 10 kills each, with Galyean contributing six block assists. Nicole Osborne provided a spark with nine kills and three service aces off the bench, while Milla Lugo and Caroline Franklin added four block assists each to headline a 14-team-block performance.
Lefebvre guided the offense with 29 assists alongside nine digs. Manaois matched her match-one performance with another 20-dig outing, while Moss added 16 digs and Isabel Sandstrum pulled up 13.
