Two Eagles Post Double-Doubles En Route to 3-2 Win Over Gardner-Webb
9/19/2009 5:59:00 PM | Volleyball
ROCK HILL, S.C. – Freshman Moriah Bellissimo recorded her first double-double as an Eagle helping lead Georgia Southern to a 3-2 victory over Gardner-Webb Saturday morning (September 19). Sanford posted her sixth double-double of the season as the Eagles closed out the Wingate Inn Classic with a win. With the triumph, Georgia Southern improved to 9-5 on the year, while Gardner-Webb fell to 4-9.
The Eagles got off to a great start to the match, winning the first two sets, 25-16, 25-22, but the Lady Bulldogs fought back taking the next two sets, forcing a deciding fifth set. In dramatic fashion, Georgia Southern fought off three Gardner-Webb match points to edge the Bulldogs, 18-16, in the deciding set. With the teams tied at 16-all, Lauren Claybaugh (Danville, Calif.) recorded a solo block to give the Eagles their first match point at 17-16. Claybaugh followed her solo block with a block assist with Parker Small (Charlotte, N.C.) to secure the match win for the Eagles.
In the opening set, Georgia Southern took its first and last lead at 4-3 and never relinquished their advantage. The Eagles held their largest lead at set-point, 24-16. An attack error from the Bulldogs rounded out the opening stanza in which the Eagles hit a match-high .375 from the floor. Georgia Southern was paced by freshman Bellissimo (Blackstone, Va.) who recorded five kills.
Gardner-Webb kept the second set a little closer, but not close enough as the Eagles put together a 25-22 set win. Georgia Southern held the lead from 9-all until Gardner-Webb fought back, tying the set at 16 apiece. The teams would tie the set at every point until the Eagles pulled away with the lead following a 19-all tie. Georgia Southern went up 23-19 as the Lady Bulldogs pulled to within two at 23-21. But a kill by Bellissimo gave the Eagles set point and Georgia Southern closed out the second set, 25-22 with a kill by Sarah Gildersleeve (Naples, Fla.).
Hitting .429 in the third set and .487 in the fourth, Gardner-Webb fought back to even the match at 2-all winning the next two sets. Georgia Southern was held to its lowest hitting percentage of the morning in the third set, striking only .158 from the floor. Only six kills were recorded by the Eagles in the third set to Gardner-Webb's 15. Laura Wilcox posted seven kills for the Lady Bulldogs in the fourth set, leading Gardner-Webb to a 25-16 win. With the help of Molly Rhyne and Evan Moffitt, who each posted four kills, the Lady Bulldogs took the fourth set, forcing the fifth set.
Georgia Southern held Gardner-Webb to a .077 attack percentage in the final set and was led by sophomore outside hitter Sanford (Avondale, Ariz.) who posted four kills in the deciding set. Rhyne's five kills for Gardner-Webb were not enough as Georgia Southern outlasted the Lady Bulldogs, 18-16, to decide the match.
For the match, Bellissimo posted 13 kills and 14 digs for her first collegiate double-double. Meanwhile, teammate Sanford posted her sixth double-double of the season with 16 kills and 17 digs. Georgia Southern hit .278 for the match to Gardner-Webb's .277. Rhyne carried the Lady Bulldogs recording 19 kills as Wilcox posted double figures with 18 kills and 10 digs. Moffitt also posted a double-double for Gardner-Webb, owning 12 kills and 11 digs.
Georgia Southern concluded its fall tournament schedule with the Wingate Inn Classic and opens conference play next week on the road. The Eagles take on the Wofford Terriers Friday, September 25, at 7 p.m. and then challenge Furman, Saturday at 2 p.m.
The Eagles got off to a great start to the match, winning the first two sets, 25-16, 25-22, but the Lady Bulldogs fought back taking the next two sets, forcing a deciding fifth set. In dramatic fashion, Georgia Southern fought off three Gardner-Webb match points to edge the Bulldogs, 18-16, in the deciding set. With the teams tied at 16-all, Lauren Claybaugh (Danville, Calif.) recorded a solo block to give the Eagles their first match point at 17-16. Claybaugh followed her solo block with a block assist with Parker Small (Charlotte, N.C.) to secure the match win for the Eagles.
In the opening set, Georgia Southern took its first and last lead at 4-3 and never relinquished their advantage. The Eagles held their largest lead at set-point, 24-16. An attack error from the Bulldogs rounded out the opening stanza in which the Eagles hit a match-high .375 from the floor. Georgia Southern was paced by freshman Bellissimo (Blackstone, Va.) who recorded five kills.
Gardner-Webb kept the second set a little closer, but not close enough as the Eagles put together a 25-22 set win. Georgia Southern held the lead from 9-all until Gardner-Webb fought back, tying the set at 16 apiece. The teams would tie the set at every point until the Eagles pulled away with the lead following a 19-all tie. Georgia Southern went up 23-19 as the Lady Bulldogs pulled to within two at 23-21. But a kill by Bellissimo gave the Eagles set point and Georgia Southern closed out the second set, 25-22 with a kill by Sarah Gildersleeve (Naples, Fla.).
Hitting .429 in the third set and .487 in the fourth, Gardner-Webb fought back to even the match at 2-all winning the next two sets. Georgia Southern was held to its lowest hitting percentage of the morning in the third set, striking only .158 from the floor. Only six kills were recorded by the Eagles in the third set to Gardner-Webb's 15. Laura Wilcox posted seven kills for the Lady Bulldogs in the fourth set, leading Gardner-Webb to a 25-16 win. With the help of Molly Rhyne and Evan Moffitt, who each posted four kills, the Lady Bulldogs took the fourth set, forcing the fifth set.
Georgia Southern held Gardner-Webb to a .077 attack percentage in the final set and was led by sophomore outside hitter Sanford (Avondale, Ariz.) who posted four kills in the deciding set. Rhyne's five kills for Gardner-Webb were not enough as Georgia Southern outlasted the Lady Bulldogs, 18-16, to decide the match.
For the match, Bellissimo posted 13 kills and 14 digs for her first collegiate double-double. Meanwhile, teammate Sanford posted her sixth double-double of the season with 16 kills and 17 digs. Georgia Southern hit .278 for the match to Gardner-Webb's .277. Rhyne carried the Lady Bulldogs recording 19 kills as Wilcox posted double figures with 18 kills and 10 digs. Moffitt also posted a double-double for Gardner-Webb, owning 12 kills and 11 digs.
Georgia Southern concluded its fall tournament schedule with the Wingate Inn Classic and opens conference play next week on the road. The Eagles take on the Wofford Terriers Friday, September 25, at 7 p.m. and then challenge Furman, Saturday at 2 p.m.
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