FLORENCE, SC – Wingate University rebounded from its first loss of the season to sweep past Francis Marion University 31-29, 30-27, 30-26, Tuesday evening (Sept. 11) in women’s college volleyball action.

FMU dropped its sixth straight match to fall to 4-10, while Wingate upped its record to 10-1.  Francis Marion will play in the UAH/Country Inn & Suites Invitational in Huntsville, Ala., on Friday and Saturday.  Wingate opens South Atlantic Conference play by hosting Tusculum College on Friday at 7 p.m.

Junior Jessica Lombardi led FMU with 13 kills and nine digs, while freshman defensive specialist Kelsie Deaton dug out 18 balls.  Junior setter Jenna Kaiser tallied 32 assists.

Freshman Rebecca Bloemer paced the Bulldogs with 20 kills and a .457 hitting percentage, while freshman Stormi Gale added 12 kills.  Senior setter Melissa DeLuca handed out 41 assists and recorded 20 digs.  Senior libero Amanda Siegrist dug out 20 balls and served two aces.

FMU rallied to tie game one at 29-29 on a kill by Krissy Mordini, but kills by Bloemer and Rachelle Rostas gave Wingate the 31-29 win.  In game two, Francis Marion led early before the Bulldogs knotted the match at 13-13 and gradually pulled away to the 30-27 victory.  In a tight game three, FMU trailed only 26-25, but Wingate scored four of the final five points to win 30-26.

Wingate University def. Francis Marion Univ. 31-29,30-27,30-26

Wingate University (10-1) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Rebecca Bloemer

20-1-0; Stormi Gale 12-2-4; Kathryn Reddick 8-0-5; Rachelle Rostas

6-0-0; Jacki Emmenecker 4-1-0; Lauren Billo 1-0-0; Amanda Siegrist

0-2-0; Brittany Horner 0-2-0; Megan McVicker 0-0-2; Totals 51-8-6.0.

(Assists) - Melissa DeLuca 41. (Dig leaders) - Melissa DeLuca 20;

Amanda Siegrist 20; Chelsea Cancelliere 15

Francis Marion Univ. (4-10) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Lombardi, Jessica

13-0-1; Settergren, Michelle 9-0-1; Eggert, Mallory 5-0-4; Phiel,

Jackie 4-0-1; Mordini, Krissy 4-3-1; Kaiser, Jenna 2-0-1; Koralewski,

Karli 1-0-0; Totals 38-3-5.0. (Assists) - Kaiser, Jenna 32. (Dig

leaders) - Deaton, Kelsie 18; Phiel, Jackie 11; Koralewski, Karli 9;

Lombardi, Jessica 9; Mordini, Krissy 8

Site: Florence, SC (Smith Univ. Center)

Date: Sep 11, 2007   Attend: 195   Time: 1:42

Referees: Kaye Moody, Walter Williams

Sea of Red Day for FMU student-athletes