Wingate’s Gale, Lenoir-Rhyne’s Burton 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 and Lenoir-Rhyne University setter Kaitlyn Burton has been named Volleyball Specialist of the Week, the league announced Monday.

Gale, a senior from Richmond, Texas (Fort Bend Austin HS), averaged 4.57 kills, 3.29 digs and 1.14 blocks per set, while hitting .403 on the week, as the Bulldogs notched a pair of conference wins to run their SAC win streak to 60 matches. She also had three aces for the Bulldogs. Gale had 13 kills, eight digs and five blocks in the sweep over Mars Hill Friday night. She piled up a season-high 19 kills in Saturday's win over Tusculum, while adding 15 digs, three blocks and three aces while hitting .459 for the match. The 2009 first team All-American leads the Bulldogs with 3.28 kills per set, while hitting a league-best .389 for the season. She is also in the top five in the league in blocks and aces.

Stormi Gale	Kaitlyn Burton

Burton, a freshman from Mills River, N.C. (West Henderson HS) averaged 31.5 assists and 10.5 digs in leading the Bears to a 4-0 week with three of those victories coming away from home. Burton tallied double-doubles in three of the four matches including a 29-assist, 12-dig performance on the road Tuesday night in a 3-0 sweep of King. Burton added 34 assists and 17 digs in a victory over Carolinas Conference-leading Lees-McRae (3-2) Friday at home. Burton leads Lenoir-Rhyne in assists (440) and service aces (14) this year.