WINGATE, N.C. - The Anderson University volleyball team opened its final South Atlantic Conference road swing of the season with a 3-0 (10-25, 15-25, 17-25) setback at 14th-ranked Wingate Friday night at Cuddy Arena.

Anderson slipped to 8-21 overall and 4-13 in the league, while Wingate (26-0, 17-0 SAC) stayed perfect on the season, winning its 81st consecutive league contest.

The Bulldogs edged out to a double-digit lead and claimed the first set behind a .538 hitting percentage and posted a .421 attack percentage en route to the win.

Despite trailing by two sets, the Trojans refused to surrender, rallying from an early deficit in the third set to tie the score at 11-11 and force a Wingate timeout. The Bulldogs responded with six unanswered points before AU climbed back within three, at 18-15.

But it was as close as the Trojans would get, as Wingate closed out the set with a 7-2 run.

Freshman Meghan Cautero dished out 20 assists and recorded seven digs on the night, while freshman Shannon Gillespie knocked down a team-high 10 kills and came up with five digs on the defensive side. Freshman Alix Hooker notched a team-high 12 digs and Kelly Lacey added 11.

In order to earn a berth in next week's conference tournament, the Trojans will have to defeat Catawba in their regular-season finale on Saturday, while Carson-Newman will have to drop its contest at Brevard.

The Trojans and Catawba square off at 2 p.m. in Hickory, N.C.