Wingate’s Gale, Malone Named Volleyball Players Of The Week

ROCK HILL, S.C. ­- Wingate University middle blocker Stormi Gale and libero Maggie Malone have been named Volleyball Player and Specialist of the Week, the league announced Monday.

Gale, a junior from Richmond, Texas (Fort Bend Austin HS) led the Bulldogs to an impressive 4-1 week, collecting a conference road win and three victories at the highly competitive AASU Classic. Gale averaged 3.53 kills and 2.37 digs per set to go along with 13 blocks and seven aces.She had nine kills and eight digs in the 3-0 win at Catawba. Her 13 kills and 14 digs led Wingate to a 3-0 sweep over defending Southeast Region champion AASU. She had 17 kills, 10 digs and five blocks as Wingate erased a 2-0 deficit to beat Flagler 3-2. Gale had a classic-high 22 kills to go along with 11 digs in the 3-2 loss to three-time national champion Barry University.

Stormi Gale

Maggie Malone

Malone, a sophomore from Chicago, Ill. (Marist) averaged 4.67 digs per set. Malone started her week by collecting 17 digs in a 3-0 sweep at Catawba. She racked up 16 digs against Armstrong Atlantic State, followed by a 34-dig performance in a 3-2 win over Flagler. Malone finished her week with 13 digs in a tough 3-2 loss against Barry. She also had four aces and seven assists on the week.

The Bulldogs are 12-1 overall, 1-0 in the SAC and 12-0 against region teams this year.