ROCK HILL, SC – Sophomore Carlie Skelton set a single-match program record for digs Tuesday evening, totaling 29, but the Winthrop volleyball program fell in straight sets to the Gardner-Webb Bulldogs.

The Eagles fall to 0-1 in conference play and 7-8 overall with the loss while Gardner-Webb improved to 1-0 in the Big South and 9-5 on the year.

Skelton's 29-dig performance breaks the previous three-set record set in 2004 of 25 digs.  Emma Weakland and Brianna Gray each tallied eight kills to lead the team.  Hannah Lackey and Siani Yamguchi tied for the team-high with 17 assists.

In a very evenly matched first set, the two sides went back and forth making runs.  The set featured 11 tied scores and nine lead changes but it was the Bulldogs that made the final run.  Winthrop led 18-17 before Gardner-Webb closed the set on an 8-3 run, taking the set 25-21.

Gardner-Webb controlled the majority of the second set, leading by as much as seven at 19-12.  Winthrop was able to pull a few points back but couldn't gain enough momentum to overcome the large deficit as the Eagles fell 25-19.

Winthrop came out with a hot start to the third set, going up 4-0, but that lead was short-lived as Gardner-Webb quickly tied the set at 6-6 and slowly increased its advantage over the Eagles.  The Bulldogs went up 14-9 but Winthrop was able to close within two at 15-13 but couldn't get any closer as Gardner-Webb took the set 25-20.

Winthrop hits the road again this Friday as the Eagles return to non-conference play in Durham, NC against the NC Central Eagles.