Wingate Climbs to No. 16 in Latest AVCA Poll

LEXINGTON, Ky. -- The Wingate University Bulldogs moved up four spots in this week's AVCA top 25 poll, ranking 16th. This marks the 19th-consecutive week the Bulldogs have been ranked.

Wingate is the only team in SAC history to crack the AVCA top 25. The Bulldogs earned their first national ranking in 2009.

The six-time defending SAC regular season and tournament champions, Wingate was ranked in the final two polls of the 2010 season. The Bulldogs became the first-ever SAC school to win the regional title that year, advancing to the Elite Eight. Wingate earned a preseason top 25 ranking in 2011, then stayed in the poll all year by going undefeated in the regular season. The 'Dogs were ranked as high as 14th in 2011, before ending the year 18th. Wingate was ranked 21st in the preseason top 25 poll.

"Of course our players are very proud of representing our school and having Wingate listed among the top teams in the country," head coach Shelton Collier says. "We also know that no other SAC team has ever been ranked, so we are representing the conference as well. Honestly, being nationally ranked is nowhere to be found on our list of goals, because we have no control over that. Yes, our Flagler win was very significant, but we all realize that we now enter the grind of our conference matches, so we will have plenty to focus on as we prepare for these. We also know that everyone on our schedule is fired up to play a nationally ranked team, so we will enjoy that challenge as well."

The Bulldogs have established themselves as one of the nation's top programs over the past few years. Wingate led the nation in winning percentage in 2011, going 32-1 overall, completing the first-ever undefeated regular season in program history. Wingate also led the nation in winning percentage in 2007 and 2010, while ranking third in 2008 and 2009. The Bulldogs have compiled an overall record of 171-9 since the start of the 2007 season, leading the nation with a .950 winning percentage during this time frame. The 'Dogs are 148-4 in regular season action since 2007.

Wingate's jump in this week's poll comes after a 5-0 week, which included four wins at the Aiken Invitational. After defeating Belmont Abbey at home Tuesday night, the Bulldogs opened the Aiken Invitational with wins over Nova Southeastern and USC Aiken. Wingate swept Augusta State Saturday morning to move to 7-0 overall. The Bulldogs then knocked off 15th-ranked Flagler Saturday afternoon, notching their first-ever win over a top 15 opponent in program history.

The Bulldogs are currently riding a nation's-best 58 match regular season winning streak, which dates back to early in the 2010 season. Wingate is currently riding a league-record 82-match SAC winning streak. The 'Dogs have dropped only 35 sets in the 82-match winning streak, while winning 28 more SAC matches than any other team over the past five years. Wingate has gone undefeated in league play during the last five seasons, while earning a conference-record seven consecutive trips to the NCAA Tournament. The Bulldogs have hosted the NCAA Southeast Regionals in each of the past four seasons, while playing in the regional title match the last three years.

Wingate's balanced attack features six players with at least 1.6 kills per set. Redshirt junior right-side hitter Anna Hilton (Hickory, N.C.) leads the way with 2.88 kills per set and a .355 hitting percentage. Outside hitters Cory McGowan (Pittsburgh, Pa.) andSusie Murach (Burke, Va.) are each averaging 2.57 kills per set, with McGowan adding 3.86 digs per set and Murach hitting .338. Freshman outside hitter Shelly Stumpff(Iowa City, Iowa) is averaging 2.48 kills and 2.16 digs per set, highlighted by a 20-kill performance in the Flagler win. Senior middle blocker Grace Krauser (Louisville, Ky.) is averaging 2.12 kills per set, while leading the team with 0.92 blocks per set.

Wingate's 6-2 offense features redshirt sophomore setter Alison Cooke (Davidson, N.C.) and freshman setter Iris Brewer (Cincinnati, Ohio). Cooke has earned SAC Specialist of the Week honors in each of the first two weeks of the season, averaging 6.42 assists and 3.46 digs per set. Brewer is averaging 5.16 assists and 2.20 digs per set in her first season at Wingate. The two help the Bulldogs rank among the nation's leaders in kills with 13.8 per set. The Wingate defense has held opponents to a hitting percentage of .053, holding seven of eight teams under .100 this year. Junior liberoRianne Lang (Littleton, Colo.) is leading the team with 4.84 digs per set.

- Wingate media relations