BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – Karli Shepherd had 10 kills and
Brookelynn Thomas and
Nikkia Benitez each had nine while three players notched double-figure digs in Winthrop's 3-0 victory against Gardner-Webb on Friday evening to open conference play.
Winthrop (6-5, 1-0 Big South) | Gardner-Webb (4-8, 1-1 Big South)
Sept. 24, 2021 | Paul Porter Arena
Winthrop 3, Gardner-Webb 0 (25-21, 25-16, 25-23)
How it Happened
Set 1 | Winthrop started off the match with a 3-0 lead on a Bulldog service error and two
Morgan Bossler kills. Although Gardner-Webb took the next two points, the Eagles extended their lead to 9-4 on a block by
Jana Owens and
Lily Leistiko. The Bulldogs closed to within 11-9, but a kill from Shepherd and two blocks extended the lead back to five points. Gardner-Webb would not get closer than three points the rest of the way as Shepherd finished off the set with a kill.
Set 2 | Once again, the Eagles took the first couple points of the set, but this time the Bulldogs battled back to tie the score at four. Two more kills from Shepherd and one by Thomas gave Winthrop a 7-4 lead, and the Eagles continued their dominance by stretching the score out to 12-7. Winthrop then won six of the next eight points for a commanding 18-9 lead, but the Bulldogs made things interesting with a 5-0 run. However, the Eagles dominated the rest of the way, winning four consecutive points for a 25-16 triumph.
Set 3 | The Eagles took another early lead in the final stanza, but the Bulldogs were up to the challenge and built an 8-5 lead. Four straight Winthrop points stemmed the tide, and the match looked like a formality as the Eagles extended the lead to 15-9. A 5-0 Gardner-Webb run cut the lead to one, and the race to 25 was on. Trailing 19-15, the Bulldogs tied the match at 19, 20, 21, and 22. They then took a 23-22 lead before two Benitez kills and an Owens ace finished out the evening.
Statistical Standouts
Notes
- Shepherd notched double-digit kills for the second time this season
- Leah Metzger has had double-digit digs in all but one match in 2021
- Madison Gorniak has excelled in the starting libero spot, posting double-digit digs in each of the last three contests
Up Next
Winthrop returns home to face Radford on Saturday, September 25 at 2 p.m.
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