Railsplitters Hold Off Mars Hill

HARROGATE, TENN. - The Mars Hill volleyball team lost to Lincoln Memorial in the South Atlantic Conference opener on Tuesday night in Mars Gym. Lincoln Memorial improves to 5-4 and 1-0 in league play on the season while Mars Hill drops to 1-8 and 0-1.

Rebecca Butler had 12 kills and a match-high 26 digs. Mary Kate Griffin led the Lions with 16 kills and had 10 digs for her fourth double-double of the season. Lauren Hochstetler contributed 12 kills and 14 digs. Sarah Fahrenbrook had 17 digs, with Christen Nicholson pitching in 12 digs. Nicholson is second in the South Atlantic Conference with 164 digs.

Kiera Holland led the Railsplitters with 17 kills and 11 digs. Brooke Fleeman finished with 11 kills. Kendra Gephart led Lincoln Memorial with 19 digs, followed by Casey Mense with 18

The Lions dropped the first set 27-25. The teams were neck and neck early before Lincoln Memorial pulled ahead for a 13-8 lead. The Lions battled back, cutting the Railsplitter lead to 14-13 following a Griffin kill. Lincoln Memorial answered with a 5-1 run, pushing the host's advantage to 20-15. Mars Hill mounted another charge, pulling to within a point four times before tying the set at 24. The teams traded points before the Railspitters won the set following a Boddie kill and an attack error.

A back and forth second set featured seven ties and five lead changes with neither team enjoying more than a three point lead. Mars Hill led 19-17 before the Railsplitters tallied four points, three of which came on Lion errors, for a 21-19 lead. A Butler kill pulled the Lions to within one before the Railsplitters closed out the set, 25-22.

Trailing by four, 23-19 in the third set, Mars Hill took advantage of six consecutive Railsplitter errors to win the third set 25-23. The Lions jumped ahead to a 7-4 advantage before Lincoln Memorial rallied to tie the set at 11 and jumped out to a 15-12 lead. A 3-0 run tied the set at 15 before the Railsplitters scored three of the next four points, setting the stage for the Lion rally.

With the fourth set tied at 17, Lincoln Memorial went on a 4-0 run for a 21-17 lead. Mars Hill rallied to within one point four times only to be answered by a Railsplitter kill, including the final point of the match. Lincoln Memorial hit a match-best .231 in the final set.

Mars Hill will visit the Palmetto State for a pair of matches this weekend, facing Newberry on Friday at 7 p.m. and Anderson on Saturday at 2 p.m.