Columbus State Holds Off Lions

COLUMBUS, Ga. - The Mars Hill volleyball team lost 3-1 against Columbus State on Friday night in Lumpkin Center as part of the CSU-Hughston Clinic Invitational. The Lions fall to 1-4 on the season while Columbus State improves to 2-4.

Mary Kate Griffin posted a double-double with 10 kills and 13 digs. Griffin also had three of the Lions four service aces. Christen Nicholson led Mars Hill with 20 digs while Lauren Hochstetler had 11 digs.

Katie Poole had 15 kills to lead the Cougar attack, with Mary McCarty adding 11 kills. Caytlin Merritt led the Cougars with 19 dig while Poole and Sabrina Rodgers each had 15 digs.

Mars Hill took a 10-5 lead in the first set before Columbus State cut the lead to two, 12-10, following a Kylie Beaubein service ace. The Lions and Cougars traded the next eight points before a Columbus State error and a Sara Fahrenbrook kill gave the Lions an 18-14 advantage. A pair of Lion errors and an Erika Gelzinyte kill brought the Cougars to within a point, 20-19, before Mars Hill scored five of the next seven points to take the first set 25-21.

The Lions scored the first seven points of the second set before a Cougar timeout. Columbus State charged back, cutting the lead to 9-6 before the Lions pushed their lead back to six, 14-9. The Cougars went on a 9-3 run to take an 18-17 lead before a Regan Macomson kill tied the set at 18. An attack error gave the Lions a 19-18 lead before McCarty's kill tied the set at 19. The two teams exchanged the next four points to tie the set at 21 before Columbus State went on a 4-0 run to win the second set 25-21 and tie the match at 1.

Both teams battled to a 7-7 tie to start the third set before an 8-1 Cougar run gave the hosts a 15-8 lead. A pair of Cougar errors pulled the Lions to within five before Columbus State scored the next eight points for a 23-10 advantage. The Cougars would win the set 25-13 while hitting a match-high .306.

Mars Hill jumped out to a 7-4 lead in the fourth set before the Cougars charged back to tie the set at 11 following a Gelzinyte kill. A service error gave the Lions a 12-11 lead before the Cougars pulled ahead 16-13. Following a timeout, the Lions tied the set at 16 before a service error gave Columbus State a lead they wouldn't relinquish. Mars Hill pulled to within a point, 18-17, before the Cougars went on a 7-1 run to close out the match.

Mars Hill will play Georgia College and State University tomorrow morning at 10 a.m. before completing the tournament against Montevallo at 2:30 p.m.