WINGATE, N.C. --- The Wingate University
volleyball team defeated visiting Tusculum College 3-0 in South
Atlantic Conference action Friday night at Cuddy Arena. The
Bulldogs won by scores of 25-17, 25-23 and 25-15 to improve to 22-1
overall and 10-0 in the SAC. The Bulldogs have won 40 consecutive
SAC matches. Tusculum falls to 14-10 overall and 5-5 in the SAC,
including TC's three-match winning streak.
Senior outside hitter Jacki Emmenecker (Perrysburg, Ohio) led the
Wingate attack with 14 kills, while hitting .444 for the match.
Junior middle blocker Stormi Gale (Richmond, Texas) added 10 kills
and five digs with a .333 hitting percentage, while junior outside
hitter Lauren Billo (Orland Park, Ill.) contributed eight
kills.
Bulldog sophomore setter Liz Willis (Raleigh, N.C.) collected 29
assists and eight digs. Sophomore libero Maggie Malone (Chicago,
Ill.) racked up a match-high 16 digs, while senior defensive
specialist Brittany Horner (Roxboro, N.C.) chipped in with 11
digs.
Freshman outside hitter Bailee Price (Fort Wayne, Ind.) led the
Pioneers with eight kills and 13 digs. Freshman middle blocker
Alyssa Raterman (Urbana, Ohio) and senior outside hitter Gina
Coffaro (Cincinnati, Ohio) posted six kills each. Sophomore setter
Peyton Colclough (Manassas, Va.) collected 20 assist and nine
digs.
The Bulldogs jumped out to an 8-1 lead in the first set, getting
a pair of kills from Emmenecker and two aces from Horner. A pair of
kills from Coffaro, to go along with an ace from sophomore outside
hitter Carly Swisher (Fort Collins, Colo.) cut the lead to 12-8.
The Bulldogs would take control of the set up with a 7-0 run to
make it 22-10. Junior middle blocker Rebecca Bloemer (Louisville,
Ky.) had a pair of kills and a block in the spurt. Emmenecker
capped the set with a kill.
A pair of Billo kills, along with an ace from Willis, put Wingate
on top 13-8 in the second set. The Pioneers fought back to tie the
frame at 17, getting blocks from Coffaro and freshman outside
hitter Sam Underwood (Muncie, Ind.). A Bloemer kill gave the
Bulldogs a 20-18 lead.
Tusculum again had the answer, getting a kill and a service ace
from Price to take a 22-21 lead. A kill from Raterman gave the
Pioneers a 23-22 advantage. Wingate answered with a kill from
freshman middle blocker Grace Krauser (Louisville, Ky.) and a
Tusculum error to take a 24-23 lead. Emmenecker finished the set
with a kill.
An 8-0 run gave the Bulldogs a 16-7 lead in the final set.
Emmenecker had a block and a kill in the spurt, while Wingate took
advantage of five Tusculum errors. A Billo kill and an ace from
sophomore outside hitter Janice Ehorn (Orange, Conn.) made it
22-12. The lead would not go below nine the rest of the way, with
Wingate finishing the match on a Tusculum error.
Tusculum returns to action Saturday, traveling to Catawba College
for a 2 p.m. match.
- TC -
