The Bulldogs will be the number one seed in this week’s NCAA Division II Southeast Regional volleyball tournament. Wingate will host the Regionals for the third consecutive year. Wingate advanced to the Regional finals for the first time in school history in 2009. The Bulldogs were ranked for five weeks during the 2009 season. Wingate's 28-1 record is good for a .965 winning percentage, which leads the nation. The ‘Dogs are 128-7 since the start of the 2007 season, good for a .948 winning percentage which leads all of Division II. Wingate is the only school to rank in the top three in winning percentage each of the last four years.
The Bulldogs claimed their fifth consecutive Food Lion SAC tournament title over the weekend. Wingate’s tournament title run got off to a thrilling start, when the ‘Dogs held off the eighth-seeded Wolves of Newberry College 3-2 in the quarterfinals. Senior middle blocker Stormi Gale (Richmond, Texas) had 19 kills, 20 digs and six blocks to lead Wingate to the win in its only five-set match of the year. Sophomore middle blocker Grace Krauser (Louisville, Ky.) added career-highs of 15 kills and six blocks, while freshman outside hitter Cory McGowan (Pittsburgh, Pa.) contributed 14 kills and 11 digs. Senior outside hitter Lauren Billo (Orland Park, Ill.) had 16 kills in the semifinal sweep over Carson-Newman, while Gale added 12 kills and 13 digs. Junior setter Liz Willis (Raleigh, N.C.) had 37 assists and 11 digs, as the ‘Dogs hit .351 for the match.
McGowan piled up a career-high 17 kills in the championship match, while adding 15 digs and two solo blocks. Gale had 13 kills, 12 digs and four blocks, while senior setter Amanda Clark (Timberlake, N.C.) collected 37 assists and eight digs. Junior libero Maggie Malone (Chicago, Ill.) joined Gale and McGowan on the All-Tournament team, notching 29 digs on Sunday. Gale earned tournament MVP honors for the second time in her career.
The 2010 season marks the sixth consecutive year the Bulldogs have made the NCAA Division II volleyball tournament. Wingate’s balanced attack has four players averaging at least 2.2 kills per set, while seven Bulldogs are averaging at least 1.5 kills per set. Wingate’s 15.0 kills per set as a team rank fourth nationally. The ‘Dogs are also fourth in the nation with 14.14 assists per set. Wingate’s .278 hitting percentage is good for 12th nationally.
Only the second two-time SAC Player of the Year in league history, Gale leads the ‘Dogs with 3.37 kills per set, while hitting a league-best .382. The 2009 first team All-American also ranks in the top five in the league with 0.98 blocks per set and 27 aces. Gale is second on the team with 2.80 digs per set; she has a team-high 12 double-doubles this season. Gale has six consecutive double-doubles, while notching 42 in her illustrious career.
McGowan is second on the team with 2.97 kills per set, while Billo is third with 2.67 kills per set. Redshirt freshman middle blocker Anna Hilton (Hickory, N.C.) is fourth with 2.25 kills per set, while ranking third in the SAC with a .339 hitting percentage. A three-time All-SAC selection, Willis leads the ‘Dogs with 7.09 assists per set, while Clark is dishing out 6.01 assists per set. A 2009 honorable mention All-American, Malone leads the team with 4.42 digs per set.
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