Hickory, N.C.----The 23rd-ranked Wingate University Bulldogs swept the Bears of Lenoir-Rhyne University 3-0 Tuesday night in South Atlantic Conference volleyball action in Shuford Gymnasium. Wingate won by scores of 25-19, 25-20 and 25-21 to improve to 28-1 overall and 13-0 in the SAC. Lenoir-Rhyne falls to 17-12 overall and 3-9 in the SAC.

The victory gives Wingate a share of its fourth straight SAC regular season title. The Bulldogs have now won 43 straight SAC matches and 23 consecutive conference road contests. Wingate went through the conference road slate undefeated for the third straight year.

Junior outside hitter Lauren Billo (Orland Park, Ill.) led the Wingate attack with 13 kills to go along with six digs. Junior middle blocker Stormi Gale (Richmond, Texas) added 11 kills and seven digs. Sophomore setter Liz Willis (Raleigh, N.C.) handed out 28 assists, while sophomore libero Maggie Malone (Chicago, Ill.) collected 18 digs.

Sophomore middle blocker Chelsea Hill (Lexington, N.C.) led the Lenoir-Rhyne attack with nine kills. Freshman setter Meredith Lutz (Newton, N.C.) contributed 27 assists and 10 digs, while sophomore libero Marissa Church (Statesville, N.C.) collected a match-high 19 digs.

“We are proud of being able to win all of our SAC road matches again this year,” head coach Shelton Collier says. “It is not easy for a team to travel, remain focused when expected to win and continue to win with every team gunning for us on their home court. I know our team is really looking forward to playing our next three matches at home and hopefully earning the right to host the NCAA Regionals again this year.”

A kill from sophomore middle blocker Rebecca Bloemer (Louisville, Ky.) gave the Bulldogs a 17-14 lead in the first set. The Bears fought back to tie the contest 18-18 on a block from sophomore outside hitter Lindsey Cantu (Orlando, Fla.) and freshman middle blocker Cheyenne Cash (Shelby, N.C.). A pair of Gale kills put the Bulldogs on top 21-19. Four consecutive Lenoir-Rhyne errors gave Wingate the first set.

A 5-0 run in the second set gave the Bulldogs a 15-12 lead, capped by a Billo block and a Willis kill. The Bears cut it to one on a kill from freshman outside hitter Cayla Crawley (Bryson City, N.C.). Kills from Gale, Billo and Willis made it 18-14. The lead would not go below three the rest of the way, with Wingate taking the set on a Lenoir-Rhyne error.

A 4-0 run gave Wingate an 18-15 lead in the final set, capped by a Billo kill and an ace from Malone. A Bloemer kill made it 21-16. Lenoir-Rhyne cut it to 22-20 on an ace followed by a Wingate error. Billo answered with a kill to stretch the lead to three; a block from Gale and freshman outside hitter Katie Handy (Palos Verdes, Calif.) finished the match.

The Bulldogs hit .227 for the match, collecting 45 kills and 18 errors in 119 attacks. Lenoir-Rhyne hit .133 for the match, with 33 kills and 17 errors in 120 attacks. Wingate had four aces on the night, led by Malone with two.

The Bulldogs are back in league action Saturday, hosting Newberry College at 5 p.m. Lenoir-Rhyne travels to Carson-Newman College Friday for a 6:30 p.m. start.

(Wingate University assistant sports information director Hugh Patton wrote this article. Patton is a 2006 Wingate graduate with a B.A. degree in Communication Studies.)