Box Score Box Score
BOILING SPRINGS, NC – The Winthrop volleyball team won its sixth straight conference match as they took down the Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs in five sets (20-25, 22-25, 25-17, 25-21, 15-13) at Paul Porter Arena.
The win improves the Eagles record to 9-10 overall and 6-1 in the conference, as Gardner-Webb falls to 5-17 overall, and 0-7 in league play.
Four Winthrop players finished the night in double-digit kills. Leading the way was junior middle hitter Becca Toor as she finished the night with 17 kills and a team leading .536 attacking percentage. Redshirt sophomore right side Brittany Blackman posted double-digit kills for the first time in her career and she ended up with 15. Senior outside hitter Kaley Viola finished the night with her eleventh double-double of year, posting 12 kills and 18 digs as senior middle hitter Sara Felts ended the night with 10 kills of her own. Viola's 18 digs led the Eagles as her and senior libeiro Kelsey Harrison were the only two Winthrop players with double-digit digs. Harrison notched 13 digs. Senior setter Kelsey Hall dished out 40 assists.
“Brittany Blackman was our x-factor tonight,” head coach Sally Polhamus said. “We knew we needed a big performance from our right side tonight, and she stepped up for us.”
In the first set, the Bulldogs stormed out and took a lead at 16-9. Gardner-Webb never lost its lead and took the set 25-20. The Bulldogs had six total team blocks and 14 kills in the set. Freshman middle blocker Tyler Cockrell finished the set with five kills on five attacks for Gardner-Webb.
The second set started better for the Eagles, as they jumped out to a quick 9-3 lead. The lead quickly fell as the Bulldogs went on an 11-2 run to take the lead at the 14-11 mark. Winthrop charged back, tying the score at 22-22. Gardner-Webb scored the last three points to take the set 25-22. The Bulldogs finished the set with a .333 attacking percentage compared to the Eagles percentage of .171.
In the third set, Winthrop again started quickly as they took an early lead, but unlike the second set, the Eagles held the lead for the entire set, winning 25-17. Winthrop finished the set with 16 kills and a .378 attacking percentage.
The fourth set saw the Eagles again take the early advantage at the 14-10 mark. Despite a Gardner-Webb run, Winthrop again never gave up its lead as the Eagles took the set 25-21. Winthrop had 19 kills compared to the Bulldogs 11. Felts finished the set with five kills.
In the final set, the teams traded points all the way to the 12-12 mark. The Eagles took three of the last four points as kills from sophomore outside hitter Carolyn Weed, Blackman and Felts gave Winthrop the 15-13 set win and the match. The Eagles ended the final set with 11 kills and a .320 attacking percentage.
“We finished great tonight,” Polhamus said. “Despite the point swings, we played extremely well.”
Leading the way offensively for Gardner-Webb was Cockrell and sophomore Molly Rhyne with 18 kills apiece. The Bulldogs posted a .258 attacking percentage for the match.
“Gardner-Webb didn't play like a winless team tonight,” Polhamus added. “They have a great offense and defense.”
The Eagles will be back on the court Saturday, Oct. 16 as Winthrop travels to Presbyterian College. The match is set for 6 p.m. Gardner-Webb stays at home on Saturday as they play host to Charleston South. That match will start at 2 p.m.
