Volleyball Falls to Carson-Newman in SAC Tournament
The Mars Hill volleyball team was eliminated by Carson-Newman 3-0 in the South Atlantic Conference Tournament Quarterfinal
HICKORY, N.C. - The Mars Hill volleyball team was eliminated by Carson-Newman 3-0 in the South Atlantic Conference Tournament Quarterfinal on Friday in Shuford Gymnasium. Carson-Newman won by scores of 25-20, 25-17 and 25-17. Mars Hill ends the 2014 season with a 10-20 record while Carson-Newman improves to 26-5.
Lauren Hochstetler led the Lions with eight kills with six kills each from Devon Felts and Rebecca Butler. Andie Russell had two aces and handed out 22 assists. Christen Nicholson led the Lion defense with 15 digs, followed by nine from Hochstetler and eight from Butler.
Rachel Harper led Carson-Newman with 16 kills. Kristen Pickett had 31 assists with two aces each from Harper and Kristina Hill. Taylor Lowe posted 20 digs, with 13 digs from Harper and 10 from Hill.
The Lions held a 15-13 lead in the opening set before Carson-Newman tied the score at 16. With the teams tied at 19, Carson-Newman scored six of the next seven points for a 25-20 win. Carson-Newman jumped out to a 10-2 lead before the Lions rallied to pull within three, 17-14. The Eagles finished the set on an 8-3 run to win 25-17. In the third set, Carson-Newman broke a 6-6 tie with an 8-3 run to take a 14-9 lead. The Lions pulled to within five, 17-12, before the Eagles pushed their lead to 24-14. Mars Hill pulled to within seven thanks to a pair of Hochstetler kills and a service error, but a Jenna Wilson kill ended the match.
The match was the final one in the careers of seniors Nicholson, Hannah Wilson, Regan Macomson and Tori Radcliff. Nicholson led the Lions with 505 digs this season, which currently ranks sixth in the league.