Wingate, Catawba Advance to Food Lion SAC Volleyball Championship Final

HARROGATE, Tenn. -- Wingate and Catawba won Saturday's Food Lion SAC Volleyball Championship semifinals, setting up a title match between the top-seeded Bulldogs and No. 2 seed Indians on Sunday at 2 p.m.

A live webcast of Sunday's championship match will be available SAC Volleyball Championship Central.

No. 1 Wingate 3, No. 4 Tusculum 0

HARROGATE, Tenn. -- The top-seeded Bulldogs of Wingate University advanced to the championship match of the Food Lion South Atlantic Conference Tournament with a 3-0 victory over the fourth-seeded Pioneers of Tusculum College (25-13, 25-17, 25-15). They await the winner of the semi-final matchup between Mars Hill College and Catawba College.

Anna Hilton led for the Bulldogs as she recorded ten kills to lead all players. Liz Willis led a potent offensive attack with 35 assists. Maggie Malone notched 18 digs. The Wingate offense was firing on all cylinders as they finished the day with a .314 hitting percentage.

Taylor Boone was the high kill performer for the Pioneers as she recorded six kills on the afternoon. Ashley Sarmiento recorded 21 assists and Caitlyn Dean compiled 17 digs.

Wingate opened the first set by shooting out to a 4-0 lead and never looked back. The Bulldogs continued to extend their lead as they led by as many as 20-8 late in the set. WU cruised to a 25-13 set victory.

The Bulldogs continued their impressive performance in the second set as they opened up a 8-2 lead in the early points. They took a 23-11 lead late into the set. Despite a 6-0 rally from the Pioneers, WU would conclude the set with a 25-17 victory and take a 2-0 lead in the match.

In the third and final set, the Wingate Bulldogs never trailed. With the game close at 13-10 in favor of the Bulldogs, Wingate finished the match on a 12-5 run to cap the match with a 25-15 set victory and a 3-0 win.

No. 2 Catawba 3, No. 6 Mars Hill 0

HARROGATE, Tenn. -- The Indians of Catawba College advanced past the Lions of Mars Hill with a 3-0 win in second round play of the Food Lion South Atlantic Conference Tournament. With the win, the Indians will face off against the Bulldogs of Wingate University in the championship match.

The Indians were led by Kaitlyn Whitmer's ten kills. Shay Meeks followed close behind with nine kills. Jordan Raye dished out a game high 34 assists and Jenny Young's 27 digs was also a game high.

Mars Hill was led Marissa Wixson's 11 kills which led all players. Hannah Wilson finished with 18 assists and Maggie Murphy notched ten digs.

Mars Hill jumped out 3-0 in the first before Catawba answered with a four point run to take the lead. The Indians would never trail in the remainder of the set. With a 17-15 lead late in the set, CU closed the set with an 8-2 run to take the first by a score of 25-17.

The Indians took the first two points of the second set as they never trailed from start to finish in the set. With the game tied at 14 apiece, Catawba made a an 11-4 run to win the second set by a score of 25-18 and take a 2-0 lead.

The third set saw the Lions jump out to a 5-1 lead before the Indians rallied to regain the lead at 6-5. From that point on, CU controlled the set. With a 20-18 lead, Catawba finished the set and the match with a 5-1 run. They would win the set with a 25-19 score and won the match.

The Indians advance to the finals where they will take on the top-seeded Bulldogs of Wingate. That game is scheduled for a 2 p.m. start.