WINGATE, NC - The Emmanuel College women's volleyball team traveled to Wingate University for the first round of the 2019 NCAA women's volleyball playoffs. The Lions faced the #1 seed Bulldogs for the second straight year. The Bulldogs won their 53rd consecutive home game by defeating the Lions 3-0. 

Emmanuel kept pace with Wingate in the beginning of the first set until the Bulldogs got a series of kills that the Lions couldn't match. Wingate would go on to win the set, 25-18. 

The second set began in a similar fashion as the Bulldogs slowly pulled ahead. However, kills from sophomore Mia Cotton and senior Jessica Gray kept the Lions alive. The Lions were then able to gain their first lead of the set, 13-12. The set continued in a back and forth exchange until it was tied at 20. Two service errors from Emmanuel and a service ace for Wingate follwed allowing the Bulldogs to take the set, 25-22. 

Emmanuel got off to their hottest start of the night in the fourth set, taking an early 7-3 lead. Unfortunately for the Lions, the Bulldogs came back swinging. Wingate went on a 14-2 run that Emmanuel was unable to recover from. The Bulldogs went on to win the set, 25-13. 

Jessica Gray led the way with 9 kills in her last game as a Lion, finishing her senior season with 396 total kills. Senior Mia McKensey finished the night with 5 blocks for a total of 134 in her final season. Senior Stephanie Hardy had 23 assists to finish with 1249 in her last year as a Lion. Senior Aysha Avery had 5 digs and totaled 588 for the season. Senior Gabby Ghassedi had 3 digs and totaled 196 for the year. 

This match concludes the 2019 women's volleyball season for the Lions who finished with a 20-13 overall record and the title of Conference Carolinas Champions for the second consecutive season.

For more news on Emmanuel College athletics, visit goeclions.com.