ANDERSON, S.C. - The Anderson University volleyball team battled 15th-ranked Wingate, but the visiting Bulldogs pulled away for a 3-0 (25-19, 25-14, 25-14) win past the Trojans in South Atlantic Conference volleyball action Friday night at the Abney Athletic Center.

Anderson (5-13, 3-5 SAC), which was looking to hand Wingate (17-0, 8-0 SAC) its first league loss since 2006, suffered its fifth consecutive setback.

Wingate, the defending NCAA Southeast Regional Champions, extended its conference win streak to 72 matches and has won 31 straight sets this year.

The first set featured five ties and four lead changes before the Bulldogs snapped an 8-8 tie to edge out to a 14-9 lead, their largest of the frame until the final score. Trailing by five, the Trojans climbed back within two points on three occasions, the final time at 20-18, but were unable to get any closer as Wingate closed out the set with a 5-1 run.

Anderson led twice early in the second set, forcing the Bulldogs to call a timeout with AU holding a 6-5 advantage. Wingate answered with a 14-3 run to build a double-digit cushion en route to claiming the second set.

Wingate pushed out from a narrow 10-8 lead in the third set to stake a 19-12 lead and held off the Trojans for the Bulldogs' tenth consecutive sweep of the season.

Freshman Shannon Gillespie led the Trojans with six kills on the night, while freshman Kalie Endres recorded a match-high 25 digs on the defensive side. Freshman Meghan Cautero handed out a team-best 17 assists.

Sophomore Cory McGowan led a balanced Bulldog attack with 10 kills. Fellow sophomore Anna Hilton added seven kills, while senior Maggie Malone recorded 17 digs.

Anderson will get back on the court Saturday afternoon, when Catawba invades the Abney Center for a 2 p.m. contest.