Wingate’s Gale, Lenoir-Rhyne’s Lutz Named Volleyball Players Of The Week

ROCK HILL, S.C. ­- Wingate University middle blocker Stormi Gale and Lenoir-Rhyne University setter Meredith Lutz have been named Volleyball Player and Specialist of the Week, the league announced Monday.

Gale, a junior from Richmond, Texas (Fort Bend Austin HS), averaged 4.44 kills per set, to go along with 2.22 digs per set while leading the Bulldogs to a pair of conference victories.

Stormi Gale

Meredith Lutz

Wingate secured its third straight perfect SAC season, winning its 46th straight conference win. Gale had 19 kills, 12 digs, six blocks and three aces in the 3-2 win over Carson-Newman Friday. She had 21 kills and eight digs in the 3-1 win over LMU Saturday. Gale finished the regular season as the SAC leader 3.77 kills per set and third with a .304 hitting percentage. She wins this award for the fourth time this season.

Lutz, a freshman from Newton, N.C. (Fred T. Foard HS), led Lenoir-Rhyne to a pair of 3-0 sweeps over league-foes Mars Hill at home Tuesday and against Newberry on the road Saturday. Lutz averaged 33 assists, 8.5 digs and 2.5 service aces per match including a double-double (34 assists and 11 digs) in the season finale against Newberry. Lutz currently leads L-R assists (1,200) and service aces (42) this season. She wins this award for the second time this season.