Trojans Sweep Volleyball

ANDERSON, S.C. - The Mars Hill volleyball team lost 3-0 to Anderson in Abney Athletic Center on Saturday afternoon. The Lions fall to 2-8 on the season and 1-2 in South Atlantic Conference play, while Anderson improves to 8-2 and 2-1.

Rebecca Butler led the Lions with eight kills, followed by Lauren Hochstetler with five and Mary Kate Griffin with four. Christen Nicholson posted 15 digs, with Butler contributing 10 to lead the Lion defense.

Anderson was led by Shannon Gillespie's 12 kills, with Marissa Mitter and Hailey Pittman each adding 10 kills. Alix Hooker had a match-high 26 digs for the Trojans.

With the score tied at four in the opening set, Anderson went on a 7-1 run for an 11-5 lead before an attack error and a Butler kill prompted a Trojan timeout as Anderson held an 11-7 lead. The Lions would tie the set at 11 before Anderson scored four consecutive points to take a 15-11 lead and force a Mars Hill timeout. Anderson scored four straight points coming out of the timeout en route to a 25-15 win.

Anderson opened up a 4-0 lead in the second set before the Lions knotted the set at four and pulled ahead for an 8-7 lead followed the second of consecutive Butler kills.  The teams stuck within a point of each other or tied until Anderson scored three straight points to take a 16-13 lead. A Butler kill cut the Anderson to two, 16-14, but it was as close as Mars Hill would get for the rest of the set as Anderson held on 25-20.

The Trojans jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the third set before the Lions ripped off three straight points to trim the Trojan lead to 5-3. A pair of attack errors pulled the Lions to within a point,8-7, before Anderson went on a 7-1 run to take a 15-8 lead and a 25-14 victory in the set to close out the match.

Mars Hill travels to Carson-Newman on Tuesday for a 7 p.m. match.