Wingate Tops Carson-Newman To Advance To Southeast Region Volleyball Championship

Wingate Tops Carson-Newman To Advance To Southeast Region Volleyball Championship
November 21, 2009

WINGATE, N.C. -- The 24th-ranked Wingate University Bulldogs hit .389 for the match as they swept the Eagles of Carson-Newman College 3-0 in NCAA Division II Southeast regional semi-final action in Cuddy Arena Saturday night. The Bulldogs won by scores of 25-22, 25-16 and 25-19 to improve to 36-1 overall; they reach the regional finals for the first time in school history. The Eagles conclude the 2009 season 23-10 overall.

The number one seed in the region, Wingate has now won 24 consecutive matches. The Bulldogs will take on Flagler College Sunday night at 7 p.m. The Bulldogs and the Saints met once earlier this season, with Wingate rallying for a 3-2 win.

"Carson-Newman always plays us very tough, so we were especially concerned about tonight," Wingate head coach Shelton Collier says. "We truly played one of the best matches we have ever played tonight. We are excited about having a chance to play in the regional championship match Sunday night."

Junior outside hitter Lauren Billo (Orland Park, Ill.) led the Wingate attack with 15 kills, while hitting .423. Junior middle blocker Stormi Gale (Richmond, Texas) added 13 kills, five digs, four blocks and a .379 hitting percentage. Junior middle blocker Rebecca Bloemer (Louisville, Ky.) had eight kills, while freshman middle blocker Grace Krauser (Louisville, Ky.) contributed seven kills in nine swings for a .778 hitting percentage. Sophomore setter Liz Willis (Raleigh, N.C.) handed out 40 assists, while sophomore libero Maggie Malone (Chicago, Ill.) collected 13 digs.

Junior outside hitter Carly Mozgai (Greensboro, N.C.) led the Eagles with 10 kills and a .400 hitting percentage. Senior outside hitter Jessica Schachleiter (Cincinnati, Ohio) added nine kills and 11 digs, while hitting .364. Senior setter Stephanie Cutter (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) notched 24 assists and seven digs, while freshman libero Angelle Hayes (Brentwood, Tenn.) collected eight digs.

The final set featured seven ties and two lead changes. A kill from senior outside hitter Jacki Emmenecker (Perrysburg, Ohio), followed by an ace from Krauser and a Bloemer kill gave Wingate an 18-14 lead. An ace from Mozgai cut it to two at 19-17. Gale answered with a block, while another Carson-Newman error made it 21-17. With the score 22-19, the Bulldogs turned to Billo. She notched three consecutive kills to send Wingate to the regional finals.

Wingate used an 8-0 run to put the second set out of reach. Carson-Newman led 11-10 on a Mozgai service ace. The Bulldogs answered with eight straight points, highlighted by two kills each from Billo and Bloemer. Gale finished the set with a kill. Wingate hit .361 (17 kills, four errors, 36 total attacks) in the second stanza.

The first stanza was tight throughout the frame, featuring eight ties and two lead changes. A kill from Krauser, followed by a Carson-Newman error gave Wingate a 13-10 lead. The Eagles tied it at 14 on a kill from senior middle blocker Jessica Brady (Fruitland Park, Fla.). Back-to-back kills from Bloemer gave the Bulldogs a 20-17 lead. Carson-Newman cut the lead to two one final time on a Mozgai kill to make it 24-22. The Bulldogs capped the set on a Carson-Newman error. Wingate hit .405 in the opening set (19 kills, four errors, 37 total attacks). Gale had five kills, while Billo and Bloemer had four kills each.

The Bulldogs hit .400 or better in two of the three sets, while totaling 53 kills against 11 errors in 108 attacks for the match. Carson-Newman had 37 kills against 13 errors in 95 attacks for a .253 hitting percentage. The Bulldogs had five aces, led by Willis and senior defensive specialist Brittany Horner (Roxboro, N.C.) with two each. Mozgai had both aces for the Eagles.