HICKORY, N.C. - Wingate prevailed in a battle of the top two teams in the SAC on Tuesday night, taking down the Bears 3-1 in a raucous Shuford Arena. 

The player of the match was Emmie Modlin, who finished with a monster triple double of 26 assists, 19 digs, and 15 kills.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Final: #19 Wingate 3, Lenoir-Rhyne 1 (25-22, 21-25, 25-21, 25-19)
Records: #19 Wingate (14-1, 7-0 SAC), Lenoir-Rhyne (11-4, 5-2 SAC), 
Location: Shuford Arena | Hickory, N.C.

STORY OF THE MATCH:.

• Wingate jumped out to a 5-0 lead before a 5-0 Lenoir-Rhyne run knotted things up.
• Tied a 22-22, Wingate scored the final three points to take the set.
• The Bulldogs controlled much of the second set, eventually taking a 21-18 lead.
• The Bears closed on a 7-0 run that was both started and finished by an Emmie Modlin Kill. 
• Down 18-13 in the third set, Kayli Cleaver notched two kills to help cut the lead to two, but a five-point Wingate run essentially put the game today.
• Wingate out-hit Lenoir-Rhyne .156 - .082 in the fourth set to seal the win. 
• Emmie Modlin led the Bears in both kills (15) and assists (26), while Hadley Prince was tops with 25 digs. 
• Averie Dale had a season-high 14 kills on a .250 hitting percentage. 

BEYOND THE BOXSCORE:

• Wingate won their ninth straight against the Bears today.
• Emmie Modlin is one of just 10 individuals in NCAA Division II to have notched at least two triple doubles on the season.
• The Bears held Wingate to a .127 hitting percentage, their second lowest of the season. 
• The Bulldogs have only dropped seven sets all season, two of which were to the Bears.
• Kayli Cleaver is just two kills away from 500 at Lenoir-Rhyne.
• The Bears are now third in the SAC behind Wingate (7-0) and Anderson (4-1). 

UP NEXT: The Bears will travel to Newberry on Friday night. Bears and Wolves played last Saturday in Shuford with the Bears coming away with the sweep. Newberry fell 3-0 to Anderson earlier tonight. First serve is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.