October 24, 2008

WINGATE, N.C.- The Wingate University volleyball team won its 20th consecutive match by defeating South Atlantic Conference foe Mars Hill College 3-0 Friday night in Cuddy Arena. The Bulldogs won by scores of 25-12, 25-18 and 25-11 to improve to 22-1 overall and 11-0 in the SAC. Mars Hill falls to 7-13 overall and 1-10 in the SAC.

Senior outside hitter Kathryn Reddick (Franklinton, N.C.), senior middle blocker Ashley Craven (Southern Pines, N.C.), junior middle blocker Megan McVicker (Mercer, Pa.), sophomore outside hitter Lauren Billo (Orland Park, Ill.) and freshman outside hitter Janice Ehorn (Orange, Conn.) had six kills each for the Bulldogs. Freshman setter Liz Willis (Raleigh, N.C.) handed out 30 assists, while freshman libero Maggie Malone (Chicago, Ill.) collected nine digs.

Freshman outside hitter Evie Tafunai (Edwardsburg, Mich.) led the Mars Hill attack with six kills. Senior outside hitter Lindsay Phillips (Rosman, N.C.) chipped in with four. Sophomore setter Sarah Paquette (Swannanoa, N.C.) had seven assists for the Lions.

An ace from junior defensive specialist Chelsea Cancelliere (Richboro, Pa.) gave the Bulldogs a 13-6 lead in the first set. Wingate stretched the lead to nine when a kill from junior outside hitter Jacki Emmenecker (Perrysburg, Ohio) made it 19-10. The hosts pushed the lead to 23-11 on another Emmenecker kill. Cancelliere finished the set with an ace.

Wingate took a 15-7 lead in the second set, thanks to a pair of aces from Craven to go along with a kill from Billo. The Lions cut the lead to six on a block from freshman middle blocker Traci Teague (Ramseur, N.C.) and an ace from freshman outside hitter Jenna Luke (Mishawaka, Ind.) to make it 17-11. Wingate answered with a 4-1 run, sparked by a pair of kills from Ehorn to make it 21-12. The Lions got the deficit down to six on kills from Tafunai and Phillips to make it 24-18. Billo completed the set with a kill.

The Bulldogs took an 11-6 lead in the third frame on a kill from Willis. Mars Hill cut the lead to four on a Bulldog error. Wingate responded with a 5-0 run, getting two kills from Ehorn to go along with a kill and a block from Willis to make it 15-7. A block from Reddick and McVicker made it 21-9. Emmenecker put the finishing touches on the match with a kill.

Wingate hit .349 for the match, with 42 kills and 13 errors in 83 attacks. Mars Hill hit .056 for the match, with 16 kills and 12 errors on 71 attacks.

Mars Hill returns to action Saturday, traveling to Newberry College for a 2 p.m. start.

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