Carrollton, GA - McKenna Wharton had 14 kills in her West Georgia debut and Madi Fleming delivered 12 assists and 11 digs en route to leading the West Georgia Wolves to a 3-0 blasting of Converse in the 2016 UWG Volleyball season opener on Friday evening at the Lumpkin Center in Columbus, Ga. as a part of the Hughston Clinic Invitational, hosted by Columbus State.

The freshmen were part of an influx of youth into the UWG lineup by head coach Trina Braden after a rough season throughout the 2015 campaign. Wharton, a freshman from Memphis, Tenn., had the most kills of any one player since September 27, 2014, when Tiffany Ancrum had 14 kills against Mississippi College. It also is tied for the most kills by a freshman in a single match in the past 11 years and is the second-most kills delivered in a debut by a player of any year since 2005.

Fleming split time at setter with Kelcie Zimmer on the evening, with Zimmer leading the way with 20 assists on the night. Fleming, a freshman from Columbus, Ga., played well in her hometown, delivering on 12 assists and 11 digs on the night.

But things started slowly for the Wolves, as Converse jumped out to a quick 6-1 lead in the first set of the year. That was short-lived, as the Wolves went on a 10-5 run, taking an 11-10 lead later in the set. West Georgia pulled out to a three-point advantage, and it stayed there for most of the rest of the first set. The Wolves led 24-20, but Converse made a short run that ended with a kill from sophomore Katie Hanson to give UWG a 25-23 victory. Wharton led the way in the set with four kills, and was consistent the entire night, picking up four kills in the second set and five in the third.

In the second set, things started out in a very similar fashion to the way the first set ended, as Converse stayed close for the first 17 points. But then the Wolves pulled away late in the set, with Fleming delivering a service ace to close out the set with a 25-17 victory and a 2-0 lead in the match.

In the third set, it was all West Georgia, as the Wolves vaulted out to a 16-9 lead early in the frame. UWG then turned it on with Zimmer on serve, as the Wolves scored nine straight points to end the match with a 25-9 victory. Sophomore Paige Berriochoa had three kills and a block in that run and Wharton had three kills, including the final point of the night.

West Georgia moves to 1-0 on the season and will play two matches on Saturday at the Hughston Clinic Invite, taking on Anderson at 10:00 a.m., followed by a 12:30 match against Clark Atlanta.