Wingate’s Gale, Newberry’s Blakely Named Volleyball Players Of The Week

ROCK HILL, S.C. ­- Wingate University middle blocker Stormi Gale has been named the Volleyball Player of the Week, while Newberry College setter Brianna Blakely has been named Volleyball Specialist of the Week, the league announced Monday.

Gale, a senior from Richmond, Texas (Fort Bend Austin HS), led Wingate to a huge 3-0 week, including a 3-1 win over defending regional champion and 2009 NCAA Final Four participant Flagler College. She wins for the second week in a row. The Bulldogs also won at Mars Hill and Tusculum, handing the Pioneers their first league loss. Gale hit .437 on the week, with 3.09 kills, 2.27 digs and 1.27 blocks per set. Gale had 11 kills and no errors in 22 swings against Flagler, to go along with 13 digs and five blocks with a .500 hitting percentage. Gale had 13 kills and just one error to go with five blocks and eight digs in the 3-1 win at Mars Hill. She had 10 kills, four digs and three blocks in handing Tusculum its first SAC loss of the season. The 2009 SAC and Regional Player of the Year is averaging 3.35 kills and 2.50 digs per set, while hitting .367 on the season.

Stormi Gale

Brianna Blakely

Blakely, a senior from Houston, Texas (Pasadena Dobie HS) amassed 110 assists over three matches last week good for an average of 36.7 per match and 11.0 assists per set. The 5-5 setter also recorded five service aces. Blakely had five kills, hitting .357 through the trio of matches. In the defensive department, she racked up 24 digs good for an average of six per match. On the season, Blakely has 382 assists, an average of 8.88 per set and has delivered 14 service aces. She is third on the squad with 106 digs for the season. Blakely has been instrumental in leading the Wolves to their first seven match win streak since 1991.