University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
UNC Asheville
Gardner-Webb
Volleyball Holds Off Gardner-Webb in Four Sets
09.22.2009 | Women's Volleyball
ASHEVILLE, N.C. - Lauren Ficker recorded a double-double with 13 kills and 10 digs as UNC Asheville held off Gardner-Webb 3-1 in Big South Conference volleyball action at Justice Center Tuesday night. The Bulldogs won the hard-fought match 25-20, 25-23, 18-25, 26-24.
It was Asheville's (12-5, 1-0 BSC) 11th victory in its last 14 matches. The Runnin Bulldogs fell to 5-10 overall and 0-1 in the Big South.
Gardner-Webb was led by Laura Wilcox with 13 kills, while Melissa Richie and Molly Rhyne added 12 kills each.
The Bulldogs had sophomore Cindi Miller finish with 11 kills. Setter Rachel Guinane had seven kills, 31 assists and three service aces.
Asheville did a great job blocking on the night as it record 11 blocks. Freshman Holly Shelton finished with eight blocks for the Bulldogs. Raquel Miotto, who leads the Big South in digs, finished the match with 23.
Gardner-Webb had four players in double-figures for digs as Regina Feagin had a team-high 14. Britt Wilson had 12, while Molly Rhyne and Evan Moffitt had 11 each. Moffitt contributed four service aces.
The Bulldogs hit .382 in the first game and went on a late 5-0 run to take the first set 25-20. Ficker had five kills for Asheville in the opening set.
The second set had 17 tie scores and 12 lead changes before the home team put a 3-0 run late in the set to win 25-22.
Gardner-Webb took control of the third set with a 7-0 run and cruised to a 25-18 win.
In the fourth set, the Bulldogs looked they had control with an 8-1 run to lead 17-10. But the Runnin' Bulldogs roared back with a 10-3 run to tie the match at 20-20 on a kill from. Richie.
Ficker had two kills to push Asheville up 24-21 only to see GWU score three points to knot the fourth set at 24-24.
Brooke Holliday had a key dig that she got over the net and fell for a kill to give Asheville a 25-24 lead. Miller finished the match with a kill to give the Bulldogs the exciting victory.
The Bulldogs continue Big South Conference play Friday night at Radford starting at 7 p.m. Gardner-Webb hosts Bethune-Cookman Friday night, also at 7 p.m.
