Wingate N.C. – The Lewis University women's volleyball team split on the first day of the Bulldog Classic, hosted by Wingate University, as they fell 3-2 to UNC Pembroke and upset No. 17 Wingate.
The Flyers and Braves ended the day at 1-1 while UNC Pembroke played three matches and wrapped up the tournament with a 1-2 overall record.
HOW IT HAPPENED (VS UNC PEMBROKE)
Down 2-0, the Flyers found themselves in a close match with the Braves as they held onto a slim 13-12 lead midway through the third set. Lewis found some breathing room as a kill from junior
Sarah Newberry (Fairfield, Ohio/Stephen T Badin) kicked-off a short 5-2 spurt that put the Flyers ahead, 18-14. Despite a late push from UNC Pembroke, a pair of late kills from Newberry and freshman
Ann Kelly Velikov (Orvault, France/C.E.N.S.) sealed the 25-21 set victory. The Flyers hit at a team-best .344 (15-4-32) compared to the Braves who hit at a clip of .133 (10-6-30)
Both sides again found themselves caught in a dogfight in the fourth set as the Flyers found themselves down one, 10-9, after a kill from the Braves Addie Decker. Still, the red and white had an answer as a kill from freshman
Kaileigh Krawiec (Roselle, Ill./Lake Park) started a 9-1 run which put the Flyers ahead for good, 18-11. They Flyers again kept the Braves at bay and sealed the set with another pair of consecutive kills, this time coming from
Reese Renfrow (Prosper, Texas/Prosper High School) and Newberry, to tie the match 2-2, and take the set 25-17.
In the fifth and final set, the Braves struck first with a pair of back-to-back services aces, but Lewis responded with kills from Velikov and Renfrow to tie the set. Still, UNC Pembroke took the lead for good as a kill from Alexandra Mills began a 6-2. The Braves used a Kaitlyn Koel kill to seal the set five victory, 15-10, and take the match, 3-2.
Newberry led Lewis with 14 kills while junior
Lauren Buxton (Springfield, Ill./Pleasant Plains) notched a double-double with 10 kills and a team-best 16 digs to pair with four total blocks. Krawiec added in a match-best 34 assists in the losing effort. Mills poured in 11 kills for UNC Pembroke while Savannah Whaley tallied 14 digs in the win.
Lewis ended the match hitting at a clip of .173 (54-28-150) compared to UNC Pembroke who ended the match with a hitting percentage of .113 (45-27-160).
HOW IT HAPPENED (AT #17 WINGATE)
Lewis raced out to an early lead in the first set as they scored five of the first six points, paced by a pair of kills from senior Emma O'Neil. Both sides traded the next few scores, but an 8-4 run midway through the set put the Flyers ahead by a then set-best seven, 19-12. Lewis never looked back and secured the 25-17 set victory and 1-0 match lead.
Despite both sides trading scores to being the second frame, a 10-0 run by No. 17 Wingate midway through the set allowed the host Bulldogs to take the set, 25-13 and tie the match, 1-1.
Knotted at 7-7 in the third set, the red and white gained some breathing room as a Krawiec kill began a short 3-0 spurt that gave Lewis a 10-7 edge. Each side exchanged points with the Bulldogs getting to within one of the Flyers, 12-11. Still, Lewis had another answer as a Renfrow kill started in a 6-2 run that put the red and white ahead for good, 17-13. The Flyers kept the Bulldogs at bay the remainder of the frame and sealed the 25-19 victory with an attack error from Wingate to take a 2-1 match lead.
Lewis opened the fourth set by scoring five of the first six points before going on an uninterrupted 8-0 scoring run, capped by an ace from junior
Elena Gubera (Jamestown, Ind./Western Boone), to command a 13-4 lead midway through the frame. The Flyers used multiple long scoring runs throughout the final frame and capped the upset victory by scoring four of the final five points of the match, capped by a kill from Zielinski. In the final frame, Lewis held Wingate to just a .027 (8-7-37) hitting percentage while they hit at a clip of .375 (14-2-32) in the final stanza.
Lewis ended the match with a hitting percentage of .266 (54-12-158) while Wingate ended the match hitting at a clip of .156 (54-24-173).
Buxton led Lewis with a 15 kill, 13 dig double-double while Karwiec dished out a season-best 41 assists. Gubera tallied a team-best 14 digs and four aces while O'Neil notched six total blocks (3 solo, 3 assists). Sydney Morland notched 18 kills for the Bulldogs while her teammate Maddie Hoffman amassed a match-best 24 digs.
MATCH NOTES
- Lewis defeated a ranked team on the road outside of the postseason for the first time since Sept. 14, 2024, when they downed No. 24 Regis, 3-1, in Denver.
- Newberry tallied 10-or-more kills in back-to-back matches for the first time in her career.
- O'Neil tallied six blocks for the first time since Nov. 24, 2024, against Rockhurst
- Lewis is now 1-1 against UNC Pembroke and 2-0 against Wingate. It also marked the first meeting against the Braves since 2022 and first meeting against the Bulldogs since 2000.
- Krawiec, Velikov and Kynzie Lilly (Richmond, Texas/Southwest Baptist) all made their Lewis debuts.
UP NEXT
Lewis will wrap up the Bulldog Classic tomorrow against Francis Marion (9 AM EST) and Coker (4:30 PM EST).
50 YEARS OF WOMEN'S ATHLETICS
Lewis University is also organizing several alumni and family events throughout the women's athletic seasons to commemorate this historic milestone. These special gatherings will provide an opportunity for former athletes, families, and supporters to reconnect and celebrate the achievements of women's sports at Lewis. The scheduled events include:
- Women's Soccer Alumni Day (Oct. 17)
- Women's Volleyball (Nov. 14)
For the latest news, scores, and updates on Lewis women's volleyball, visit LewisFlyers.com and follow the Flyers on social media at @Lewisuwvb on Instagram and @LewisWVBall on X.
