WINGATE, N.C. – The Catawba women's volleyball team picked up its first victory over South Atlantic Conference rival Wingate since 2008, sweeping the Bulldogs 3-0 in dominant fashion on the road Tuesday night.
Riley Hill was superb defensively and in the service department, collecting game-highs of 21 digs and three aces. Alani Kincaid also made an impressive impact, producing nine kills and four blocks. Lillie Kate Rogers added eight kills, two aces and five digs. Sydney McCutcheon tallied 20 assists as Camden Bizot generated 12.
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Catawba (11-6, 7-6 SAC) was terrific defensively, holding Wingate (11-7, 7-6 SAC) to just two aces and 36 kills on a .117 team hitting percentage, as the blue posted eight blocks. The Catawba Indians landed 40 attacks on a .169 percentage while also adding five aces and 38 assists.
Hill was a difference maker in the first set for Catawba, finishing the frame with 10 digs and two aces as the blue and white held the Bulldogs to a .135 hitting percentage. Wingate took an early 3-0 lead, but the visitors quickly responded by gaining a 14-9 advantage after a pair of Kincaid kills. The lead was cut to 21-20, but Lauren Patrick continued with her clutch tendencies during the road stretch, delivering two points and lifting the Catawba Indians to a 25-23 first-set victory.
Kincaid commanded a high-powered Catawba attack with five kills in the second period as the blue and white recorded 15 while hitting an outstanding .379 percent as a unit. The visitors led 8-6 early, before charging ahead 19-10 as six different Catawba Indians tallied kills during the 11-4 run. The veteran Wingate group made a strong comeback effort, cutting its deficit to 23-21. Kincaid, however, would rise to the occasion. The outside hitter produced an emphatic solo block and combined with fellow freshman Maddie Henning on another rejection to give Catawba a 25-21 set two win.
Wingate was on the verge of forcing a fourth stanza, leading 21-16 late in the third, but the determined Catawba Indians would make their most impressive rally of the evening. Jordan Duzenack powered an attack by the Bulldogs before Kincaid and McCutcheon combined for a block. Rogers executed back-to-back kills to force Wingate to use their final timeout. The SAC foes traded points to even the score at 24 apiece before Henning fired an effective attack through the middle. The Bulldogs' final attempt would land out of bounds, clinching the historic Catawba victory.
The win concludes a largely successful four-match SAC road stretch for the Catawba women's volleyball team, finishing 3-1 and improving to 7-6 in conference play in the midst of a highly competitive playoff race.
The Catawba Indians will return to Goodman Arena on Friday, October 16th to host Tusculum at 7 p.m. before hosting Mars Hill on Saturday at 2 p.m. for two pivotal SAC matches.
