Wingate Captures Fourth Straight Food Lion SAC Volleyball Tournament Title

GREENEVILLE, Tenn. -- Stormi Gale recorded a double-double with 18 kills and 10 digs to lead the top-seeded Wingate University volleyball team to a 3-1 win over No. 2 seed Carson-Newman College as the Bulldogs captured the 2009 Food Lion South Atlantic Conference Tournament championship. The three-day, single-elimination tournament was held at Pioneer Arena on the campus of Tusculum College.

With the victory, the Bulldogs (34-1) capture its fourth straight SAC Tournament title and sixth overall, while claiming the league's automatic bid to next week's NCAA Division II Tournament. Wingate won the match by scores of 25-9, 23-25, 25-21, 25-23.

Maggie Malone, the Food Lion SAC Tournament Most Valuable Player, led Wingate's defensive efforts with 19 digs to go along with a pair of service aces. Lauren Billo, who was named to the SAC All-Tournament squad, added 13 kills and a .286 hitting percentage, while Brittany Horner and Chelsea Cancelliere accounted for 16 and 14 digs, respectively.

Wingate University's Katie Handy and Stormi Gale reach to block a shot by Carson-Newman's Rachel Bowlin during Sunday's tournament championship. (Photo by Darren Reese)

Carson-Newman's Stephanie Cutter recorded a double-double with 26 assists and 15 digs, while SAC All-Tournament selection Nikki James tallied 11 kills, five digs, four blocks and a .417 hitting percentage (11-1-24).

In the opening frame, Wingate led wire-to-wire, jumping out to a 7-1 lead en route to a 25-9 win in the first set. The Bulldogs posted a sizzling .515 hitting percentage, including a 7-0 run midway through on Gale's serve. Carson-Newman, whose 51-mile trip to Greeneville was delayed due to traffic congestion on I-81, came out of the gate sluggish, posting a .161 hitting percentage.

Carson-Newman (22-9) rebounded in the second set with a 25-23 win to even the match at 1-1. The Lady Eagles moved out to a 5-1 advantage as Carly Mozgai recorded one of her team-high 14 kills on the afternoon. Wingate led 20-17 following a kill by Gale, but the Lady Eagles responded with a 8-3 run to close out the set, including four straight points by Mozgai.

Like the first set, Wingate led wire-to-wire as the Bulldogs reeled off six straight points to start the third frame, en route to a 25-21 win.

Wingate never relinquished the lead in the fourth set after scoring the first two points, but Carson-Newman kept the Bulldogs within striking distance, including 20-20 after a kill by Mozgai. Wingate followed with three straight points, including a kill by Billo and a C-N attack error to lead 23-20. Carson-Newman answered with a pair of points, but Wingate would score two of the final three points thanks to a pair of Billo kills to cloe out the match.

Joining Malone and Billo on the SAC All-Tournament team is Gale, the 2009 SAC Player of the Year. Carson-Newman's James and Angelle Hayes were also honored, along with Jordan Raye from Catawba College and Lauren Kiwacka from Lincoln Memorial University.

The announcement of the NCAA Division II Tournament field will be announced tonight (Sunday) at 8 p.m. (EST).

2009 Food Lion South Atlantic Conference All-Tournament Team
Maggie Malone, Wingate (MVP)
Lauren Billo, Wingate
Stormi Gale, Wingate
Angelle Hayes, Carson-Newman
Nikki James, Carson-Newman
Jordan Raye, Catawba
Lauren Kiwacka, Lincoln Memorial

Postgame Quotes:
Wingate head coach Shelton Collier:

"We are proud of being able to win this particular championship. Carson-Newman is a very good team and it was a great battle for both teams."

"We had a number of players step up and win key points for us at critical times, which is what we have done all year."

Carson-Newman head coach Shannon Mincey:

"Our traffic delay hindered our ability to jump in and get going. Not to take anything away from Wingate, they are a great team, but once we got past the first set, we had some people really step up."

"We are looking forward to the regional tournament and look forward to representing the SAC in a positive way."

Members of the All-Tournament team, from left: Nikki James, Carson-Newman; Angelle Hayes, Carson-Newman; Lauren Billo, Wingate; Stormi Gale, Wingate; and tournament MVP Maggie Malone, Wingate. Not pictured, Jordan Raye, Catawba and Lauren Kiwacka, Lincoln Memorial University.

Wingate University's Maggie Malone and Wingate coach Shelton Collier proudly display the tournament MVP award and tournament championship trophy.