Staff Writers: Caroline Backus and Cody Kelley
The No. 20-ranked Wingate volleyball team continued its near-perfect
2022 season by overpowering three opponents over the last two weeks.
Wingate played two home matches and one road match, beating Carson-
Newman and Lincoln Memorial two weeks ago at Cuddy Arena. The
Bulldogs also dominated Lenoir-Rhyne on the road last Saturday, giving
them a 24-1 record, a 22-game winning streak and a 15-0 South Atlantic
Conference record through nearly two months of play.
The team also leads the nation in winning percentage and has the longest
winning streak in Division I and II women’s volleyball. Wingate ranks
second nationally in opponents’ hitting percentage (.079) and fifth in
hitting percentage (.293).
After compiling a perfect 5-0 record in their previous road trip, the
Bulldogs continued their dominance in their first home matches in three
weeks. The team took down conference foe Carson-Newman on Oct. 14,
winning 3-1. Wingate capped off its two-game homestand on Oct. 15 by
sweeping Lincoln Memorial. The team then continued its winning ways
with a 3-1 win against Lenoir-Rhyne on Oct. 22.
As Wingate continues to blow out its opponents, it also continues to
light up the stat sheet. Through 22 matches, the team ranks first in the
SAC in kills per set (14.05), hitting percentage (.289), assists per set
(13.11), service aces (172), service aces per set (2.1), block assists (328),
total blocks (201), blocks per set (2.45), points (1525.0) and points per
set (18.6).
While going undefeated over the last two weeks, the Bulldogs once
again received some individual recognition. On Oct. 17, graduate
student setter Shannon Kasprak was named SAC Offensive Player of the
Week. Her play was recognized once more the following week as she
was named SAC Defensive Player of the Week on Oct. 24. Kasprak
played a crucial role in Wingate’s victories over the last two weeks,
accumulating 82 assists, averaging 11.71 assists per set, eight kills, 17
digs and four blocks over the two matches against Carson-Newman and
Lincoln Memorial while handing out 52 assists, 24 digs and a block
against Lenoir-Rhyne. She also added five kills and had a .417 hitting
percentage.
Several other Wingate players have continued to pile up impressive
numbers as well. Freshman middle blocker Emily Johnson has continued
to be dominant in her first collegiate season as she ranks first in the SAC
in blocks per set (1.15) and fourth in hitting percentage (.389), while
graduate student setter Shannon Kasprak is third in assists per set
(10.41) and sixth in service aces (30).
The Bulldogs have one final road trip coming up as the regular season
nears its end. Wingate will travel to South Carolina to face Anderson on
Friday at 6 p.m. and wrap up the weekend on Saturday, facing Newberry
at 3 p.m.
Wingate Triangle 