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ROCK HILL, SC – The Winthrop volleyball team took its second straight conference match to close out the regular season over the Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs. The victory came on memorable senior day in straight sets (25-23, 25-16, 25-13) Saturday afternoon at the Winthrop Coliseum.
The win improves the Eagles record to 13-15 overall and 10-6 in the conference, as Gardner-Webb falls to 5-26 on the season and 0-16.
Leading Winthrop offensively was junior middle hitter Becca Toor as she finished the night with 17 kills and a .593 attacking percentage. Behind Toor was senior outside hitter Kaley Viola as she finished the regular season with her fifteen double-double of the year posting 11 kills and 10 digs. Senior middle hitter Sara Felts and senior setter Kelsey Hall both finished with .500 attacking percentages. Sophomore libeiro Kristin Cruse led the Eagles on the defensive side with 12 digs. Hall and Viola each finished with 10 digs. Hall also dished out 37 assists. Winthrop finished the match with 53 kills, 50 digs and a .351 attacking percentage.
In the first set, the Runnin' Bulldogs maintained a lead throughout the set until the Eagles tied the set at 17-17. The teams traded points from that mark and the set was tied at the 22-22 mark when Winthrop got kills from Toor, senior outside hitter Kellie Sellers and Hall to close out the set at 25-23. The Eagles finished the set with 20 kills and a .326 attacking percentage.
“We played to their tempo in the first set,” head coach Sally Polhamus said. “They were able to get into their offense, but we hit well and we were able to finish.”
The second set saw the Eagles get down early, but come back strong and take the set 25-16. Viola finished the set with 5 service aces to lead Winthrop. Toor and Sellers both ended the set with four kills. Cruse led the Eagles with six digs in the set.
In the final set, the Eagles took command early by storming out to an 11-4 lead. From that point, Winthrop's smallest lead was five as it took the set 25-13. The Eagles finished the set with 19 kills and a .515 attacking percentage. Four Winthrop players finished with attacking percentages over .600 in the set.
“Overall, everyone's passing was stellar tonight,” Polhamus said. “We flexed our muscles in sets two and three.”
Gardner-Webb finished the match with 31 kills, 35 digs and an attacking percentage of .208.
The Eagles will participate in the Big South Tournament presented by Musco Sports Lighting. This year's tournament will be held at the Winthrop Coliseum and the first match is scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 13 at 12 p.m. Stay tuned to www.winthropeagles.com for further updates.
