Lady Eagles fall to Wingate on Friday Night

Posted: Oct 15, 2011

Wingate, N.C.----The 15th-ranked Wingate University Bulldogs swept the visiting Eagles of Carson-Newman College in South Atlantic Conference volleyball action Friday night in Cuddy Arena. The Bulldogs won by scores of 25-11, 25-17 and 31-29 to improve to 20-0 overall and 11-0 in the SAC. The 'Dogs have now won 75 consecutive SAC matches and 43 straight regular season contests. The Eagles fall to 12-9 overall and 4-7 in the SAC this season.

Sophomore outside hitter Cory McGowan (Pittsburgh, Pa.) had 16 kills with a .464 hitting percentage to lead the Wingate attack. Redshirt sophomore middle blocker Anna Hilton (Hickory, N.C.) added 12 kills and 12 digs, hitting .300 on the night. Junior middle blocker Grace Krauser (Louisville, Ky.) chipped in with 10 kills for the Bulldogs. Senior setter Liz Willis (Raleigh, N.C.) handed out 46 assists, while senior libero Maggie Malone (Chicago, Ill.) collected 19 digs.

Senior outside hitter Carly Swisher (Fort Collins, Colo.) had eight kills to lead the Carson-Newman attack. Senior middle hitter Nikki James (Cookeville, Tenn.) added six kills and four blocks for the Eagles. Freshman setter Kristen Pickett (Cleveland, Tenn.) had 12 assists and 12 digs, while freshman libero Blair Fields (Bluff City, Tenn.) notched 19 digs.

The Bulldogs jumped out to a 12-5 lead in the opening frame, getting three kills from McGowan. A Swisher kill cut the lead to six at 13-7. Wingate answered with a 5-0 run to go on top by 11. McGowan started the spurt with a kill, while senior outside hitter Janice Ehorn (Orange, Conn.) and freshman middle blocker Lexi Potter (North Liberty, Iowa) each added kills. Carson-Newman would get no closer than 10 the rest of the way, with Krauser finishing the set with a kill. Wingate had 17 kills and only two errors in set one, good for a .536 hitting percentage.

A Swisher kill and a Wingate error gave the Eagles an early 9-7 lead in the second set. Wingate responded with four straight points, getting a kill and an ace from Krauser to spark the flurry. The Eagles trimmed the lead to two on a Wingate error. The 'Dogs scored the next four points to take a 20-14 lead. Ehorn started the spurt with a kill, while McGowan, Krauser and freshman outside hitter Susie Murach (Burke, Va.) followed with kills. A Potter kill stretched the lead to 24-17. Hilton and freshman middle blocker Kelsey Handel (Knoxville, Tenn.) capped the second frame with a block. Wingate held Carson-Newman to a .000 hitting percentage in set two.

The final set was tightly contested with 14 ties and six lead changes. A 4-0 run, highlighted by a Swisher kill and James block, gave Carson-Newman a 17-15 lead. The Bulldogs tied the set at 20 on a kill from Willis. The teams would trade points until a kill from James gave the Eagles a 24-22 advantage. An Eagle error, followed by a block from Willis and sophomore middle blocker Allison Rickher (Matthews, N.C.), tied it at 24. The teams would then continue to trade points, with Wingate serving for the set four times and Carson-Newman having set point once. With the set tied at 29, Handel slammed home a kill to make the scre 30-29. The Bulldogs then turned to Hilton, who hammered home the final point of the night to give Wingate the sweep. The 'Dogs piled up 24 kills in the final frame.

Wingate had 59 kills and 24 errors in 146 attacks on the night, hitting .240. Carson-Newman had 24 kills and eight errors in 115 attacks, hitting .139. The 59 kills are a season-high for Wingate in a three-set match.

The Bulldogs return to action Saturday, hosting Lincoln Memorial University at 5 p.m. The Eagles travel to Catawba College Saturday for a 2 p.m. start.