Tusculum Holds Off Volleyball

MARS HILL, N.C. - The Mars Hill volleyball team lost 3-1 to Tusculum in South Atlantic Conference action in Stanford Arena on Tuesday night. Tusculum won by scores of 25-16, 25-22, 22-25 and 25-18. The Lions fall to 5-11 and 4-5 in league play while Tusculum improves to 9-8 and 8-1.

Mary Kate Griffin led the Lion attack with 13 kills, two aces, and recorded 17 digs. Rebecca Butler also posted a double-double with 12 kills and 18 digs. Lauren Hochstetler had eight kills, one ace and 12 digs. Christen Nicholson led the Lion defense with 20 digs, while Victoria Kaiser contributed 13 digs.

Megan Hasse had a match-high 17 kills, with Jaida Allen contributing nine kills and eight from Sabrina Schleuger. Moriah Jones led the Pioneers with 30 digs, with Hannah Berling, Hasse, Andrea Amettis and Schleuger finishing in double figures.

After a Griffin kill gave the Lions a 1-0 lead in the opening set, Tusculum scored 13 consecutive points and held a seven point or greater lead throughout the set. The second set featured 11 ties and five lead changes, with the final tiebreaker occurring on a Mars Hill error to break a 21-all draw. A Hasse kill gave the Pioneers a 23-21 lead, with Mars Hill cutting the deficit back to one following a Devon Felts kill. Hasse answered with a kill and a Lion attack error closed out the set.

With the score tied at 16 in the third set, a Griffin kill began a 5-0 run for the Lions for a 21-16 lead. Tusculum would cut the Mars Hill lead to one following a kill and three consecutive aces from Schleuger before kills from Felts and Griffin gave the Lions the victory.

Tusculum enjoyed an 11-5 lead in the third set before the Lions tied the set at 16 following a Lewis attack error. Tusculum pulled ahead but the Lions pulled to within a point, 19-18 after a Butler kill. The Pioneers scored the final six points of the set to claim the match.

Mars Hill hits the road this weekend, traveling to No. 9 Wingate on Friday night at 7 p.m.