WINGATE, N.C. – The Wingate Bulldogs (22-2, 16-1 South Atlantic Conference) overcame a 2-1 deficit and a pair of match points in the fourth set to knock off the Carson-Newman Eagles (21-5, 14-3 SAC) 26-24, 19-25, 20-25, 26-24 and 15-12 Friday night at Cuddy Arena.
Carson-Newman has lost back-to-back matches in league play for the first time under second-year head coach Dan Ahiers. The only time the Eagles had lost consecutive contests came on September 13, 2014 with defeats to UNC Pembroke and Augusta.
The match marks the first loss this year in four tries in five-set contests, first defeat in 13 tries when hitting above .200 as a team and first setback in 20 chances when leading in kills as Carson-Newman edged Wingate 64-63.
Wingate has now won 15 in-a-row and holds a two-game lead in the conference standings with five regular season matches to play.
"It's good to see that we had a lot of fight tonight," Ahiers said. "I believe we were the better team for the majority of the match, but I also know that we let one slip away. We had them clearly beaten in each of the first four sets and we didn't close the first and fourth set out. The fifth game happens fast and they had better serve-receive than we did, that's why they won the fifth."
In the opening set, Carson-Newman won the first six points before a timeout from the Bulldogs. The Eagles won the first point out of the timeout but the home team responded with six straight to pull within a point. Wingate took its first lead of the frame at 9-8 following a 9-1 run. The sides were extremely close the rest of the set with neither side leading by more than two points in a set that featured 10 ties and five lead changes. Carson-Newman had a set point at 24-23 before the Bulldogs closed on a 3-0 run including a pair of kills from Shelly Stumpff to take the set.
Wingate won eight of the first 11 points of the second stanza before Ahiers used a timeout. The Eagles cut the deficit to two points at 12-10 before going on an 8-2 run prompted a timeout from the Bulldogs. The home squad cut the Carson-Newman lead down to 20-18 forcing the Eagles to use their final timeout of the set. Out of the stoppage, the visiting group reeled off five of the final six points to equalize the match.
An early 6-2 run gave the Eagles a 7-4 lead in the third set. Wingate stormed back to take a 17-15 edge and led 19-17 late in the frame. With the score tied at 20, the Eagles reeled off the final five points to take a 2-1 lead in the match. Carson-Newman cranked out a .378 attack percentage pounding 17 kills led seven kills on a .778 attack percentage by freshman middle blocker Natalie Harris (Monroe, N.C.).
Carson-Newman looked to be in control of the fourth set taking a 12-5 lead. A 6-2 spurt by Wingate allowed the Bulldogs to within three points but the Eagles did not waver. Carson-Newman continued to lead and had two match points leading 24-22. Wingate won the final four points of the set to extend the match to a decisive fifth set.
The Bulldogs came roaring out of the set break winning 10 of the first 13 rallies of the fifth frame forcing the Eagles to call timeout. Carson-Newman responded with a 7-3 streak but the two sides traded points with Wingate closing out the match on a service error by sophomore setter Anna Patton (Franklin, Tenn.).
Overall Carson-Newman finished with a .222 attack percentage, 61 assists, 91 digs, eight service aces and five blocks versus Wingate's .240 clip, 57 assists, 99 digs, seven blocks and four service aces.
Senior outside hitter Molly Locke (College Grove, Tenn.) finished with 21 kills and 16 digs, her 10th double-double of the year and third match with at least 20 kills.
Junior middle blocker Maddie Borch (Walnut Creek, Calif.) matched a career-high that she set a week ago with 16 kills on a .364 attack percentage.
Freshman middle blocker Natalie Harris (Monroe, N.C.) set a new career-high with 15 kills on a .419 attack percentage.
Patton finished with 49 assists and 14 digs while junior libero Taylor Lowe (Franklin, Tenn.) had a match-high 27 digs and freshman libero Megan Morris (Mount Pleasant, S.C.) notched a season-high 16 assists for the third time.
Wingate's Shelly Stumpff led all players with 27 kills while hitting .353 coupled with 22 digs. No other player on the Bulldogs had more than eight kills on the night. Iris Brewer had 49 assists and 21 digs.
Carson-Newman will look to bounce back Saturday afternoon at Coker with first serve scheduled for 2 p.m. from Hartsville, S.C.
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