Wingate, NC----The Wingate University Bulldogs rallied back after dropping the first set to notch a 3-1 victory over Francis Marion University in NCAA Division II volleyball action Tuesday night (Sept. 21) in Cuddy Arena. Wingate won by scores of 21-25, 25-23, 25-14 and 25-22.

Francis marion was bidding for its best season start in 13 seasons, but falls to 9-4.  Wingate (9-1) is now 109-7 overall since the start of the 2007 season. 

Francis Marion is back in action on Friday night, traveling to USC Aiken for a 7 p.m. start.

Junior outside hitter Ashlee Crook had 13 kills, 15 digs, and four blocks to lead the FMU attack. Junior outside hitter Amanda Mitchell added 10 kills for the Patriots, while freshman outside hitter Riley Forester chipped in with nine kills. Freshman setter Nicole Bennett handed out 40 assists, while senior libero Kelsie Deaton collected 22 digs.

Wingate senior middle blocker Stormi Gale had 15 kills, 10 digs and five blocks, while hitting .467 on the night. Redshirt freshman outside hitter Anna Hilton added 11 kills, while senior outside hitter Lauren Billo added 10 kills and four blocks. Senior setter Amanda Clark collected 28 assists and 13 digs, while junior libero Maggie Malone racked up 22 digs for the Bulldogs.

A Crook kill gave the Patriots an 11-5 lead in the first set. Wingate rallied back to cut the lead to 14-12 on a kill from Billo. Francis Marion maintained the lead, and stretched it back to four when an ace from Bennett made it 20-16. The Bulldogs cut the deficit to one at 21-20 on a kill. The Patriots answered with back-to-back kills from Mitchell to make it 23-20. Another Mitchell kill made it 24-21, while Bennett put the first set away with a kill. Francis Marion hit .333 in the first set, with 13 kills and just one error.

The Patriots again got off to a quick start in the second set, taking an 11-4 lead on a kill from Crook. Back-to-back blocks, along with a kill cut the lead to 11-9. The Patriots again had the answer, taking a 15-10 lead on three straight Wingate errors. The Bulldogs responded by scoring the next five points to tie the set. A Billo kill gave Wingate its first lead at 18-17. FMU tied it one final time at 19, but the 'Dogs answered with a kill and Francis Marion error. A kill from senior middle blocker Rebecca Bloemer made it 24-22, while Gale capped the set with a kill.

The Bulldogs used a 7-0 run to take a commanding 17-8 lad in the third set. Gale got it started with three straight kills, while it ended on back-to-back FMU errors. The Patriots would get no closer than eight the rest of the way. A Billo kill made it 24-13; Wingate would take the third set on a Francis Marion error. The Bulldogs hit .379 in the third frame, while FMU hit -.050.

Two kills, along with an ace from Clark gave Wingate a 15-9 lead in the fourth set. A block and a kill from Billo put the Bulldogs on top 19-12. A kill gave Wingate a 24-17 advantage. The Patriots would not go quietly, scoring five straight points to cut the lead to 24-22. Forester had two kills in the spurt, wile Crook capped it with a block. The Bulldogs would wrap up the match on a Francis Marion error.

Wingate hit .248 on the night, with 58 kills and 20 errors in 153 attacks. FMU hit .127 for the match, with 46 kills against 25 errors in 166 attacks. The Bulldogs piled up 11 blocks on the night, led by Gale and Billo.

Wingate def. Francis Marion Univ. 21-25,25-23,25-14,25-22

Francis Marion Univ. (9-4) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Crook, Ashlee 13-0-4;
Mitchell, Amanda 10-0-1; Forester, Riley 9-0-1; Eggert, Mallory 5-1-5;
Parker, Danielle 3-0-2; Bennett, Nicole 3-2-1; Legg, Hallie 2-0-0;
Drewry, Liz 1-1-0; Mooney, Megan 0-0-1; Totals 46-4-8.0. (Assists) -
Bennett, Nicole 40. (Dig leaders) - Deaton, Kelsie 22; Crook, Ashlee
15; Drewry, Liz 13

Wingate (9-1) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Stormi Gale 15-0-5; Anna Hilton
11-0-2; Lauren Billo 10-0-4; Janice Ehorn 9-0-2; Cory McGowan 5-0-1;
Grace Krauser 4-0-4; Rebecca Bloemer 3-0-1; Katie Handy 1-0-0; Amanda
Clark 0-1-0; Maggie Malone 0-1-0; Totals 58-2-11.0. (Assists) - Amanda
Clark 28; Liz Willis 20. (Dig leaders) - Maggie Malone 22; Amanda
Clark 13; Grace Krauser 11; Stormi Gale 10; Liz Willis 9

Site: Wingate, N.C. (Cuddy Arena)
Date: Sep 21, 2010   Attend: 332   Time: 1:44    
Referees:
Libero: Deaton (FMU)