High Point, N.C. – Winthrop defeated Gardner-Webb in the semifinals of the Big South Conference Tournament by a final score of 3-0 (25-16, 25-21, 25-18) Saturday afternoon at the Millis Athletic Center on the campus of High Point University.
Winthrop (14-12, 12-2 Big South) | Gardner-Webb (14-13, 8-6 Big South)
Nov. 18, 2023 | Millis Athletic Center
Winthrop 3, Gardner-Webb 0 (25-16, 25-21, 25-18)
How it Happened
Set 1 | Winthrop started the match with a 13-8 lead, forcing a GW timeout. The hot start had
Riley Oglevie notching four kills, including three straight when the Eagles were up 8-7. The Eagles kept it going, eventually taking a 21-11 lead with an 8-3 run.
Brookelynn Thomas had three kills during the spurt. Winthrop then clinched the first set a few plays later.
Set 2 | Tied at eight, Winthrop surged to an 18-13 lead on a 10-5 run. Gardner-Webb fought back to take a 19-18 lead by scoring the next six points. But the Eagles ended the set to take a 2-0 lead in the match by scoring seven of the last nine points.
Isabella Murray ended the set with a kill.
Set 3 | The Runnin' Bulldogs took an early 6-1 lead, forcing a Winthrop timeout. The Eagles would cut it to 7-5 on two
Avery Jolley kills but Gardner-Webb scored six of the next seven points to go up 13-6. The Eagles then rallied again with a huge 14-1 run to cut it to take a 20-14 edge. Winthrop would clinch the match a few plays later.
Statistical Leaders
Notables
- The Eagles have played 1,800 matches all-time as the program holds a mark of 1,072-728.
- Winthrop is 35-28 all-time in the Big South Tournament.
- Madison Gorniak recorded her 1,000th dig in the match.
- Thomas led the Eagles in kills with 11 and blocks with three.
- Rylie McMahen led the Eagles in aces with three.
- Murray led the Eagles in assists with 29.
- Gorniak led the Eagles in digs with 11.
UP NEXT
Winthrop advances to the title match tomorrow afternoon at 4 p.m. on ESPN+, facing the No. 1 seeded High Point Panthers on their home court.
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