Lions split season series against Catawba with 3-1 victory

SALISBURY, N.C. - Sally Anne Johnson's 10^th kill of the evening earned the Mars Hill volleyball team a 3-1 victory over Catawba on the road Friday evening.

Returning to South Atlantic Conference play after the SAC/PBC Crossover tournament last weekend, Mars Hill avenged an earlier loss to the Indians led by Lauren Hochstetler's game-high 14 kills.

The Lions took the first set, 25-16 with Abby King collecting three service aces. Hochstetler and Maddie Spurgeon each had three kills in the frame.

Catawba rallied back to take the second set. Strong defensive play by Allison Benton and Rachel Stanford allowed the Indians to tie the game at one set apiece.

Mars Hill would regain the lead with another 25-16 set victory and headed into the fourth with a 2-1 advantage. 

The Lions would control a majority of the fourth set, including a 23-15 lead late in the frame. The Indians would battle back, taking the next the five points before a Hochstetler kill broke the streak. With one more desperate push, Catawba cut the Mars Hill lead to one at 24-23. On a set from King, Johnson would put the game away with her 10^th kill of the night.

Mars Hill and Catawba split the season series with one apiece. Both contests went to four sets.

The Lions are 6-13 (4-8 SAC) on the season. Catawba has dropped their last 11 matches and sits at 3-13 (1-11 SAC).

The Lions return to Stanford Arena on Tuesday, October 24 to take on Tusculum. The match is scheduled to start at 7 p.m.