Mars Hill falls to Queens in SAC quarterfinal matchup

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Mars Hill volleyball's season came to an end against Queens, 3-0, in South Atlantic Conference quarterfinal action Tuesday evening. Maddie Spurgeon led the Lions with eight kills and a .318 hitting percentage.

The Royals opened the contest taking the first four points off of the service of Lexie Dolecheck. Kills from Alex Thompson, Jordan Proszenyak and Sydney Kunz allowed Queens to build a lead they would not relinquish in the first set. After falling behind 4-1, the teams exchanged points throughout the set, but the lead from Queens could not be caught as the Lions dropped the set, 25-20. Spurgeon had four kills in the set for the Lions.

Mars Hill took their first lead of the contest with the opening point of the second set and jumped out to a 4-2 lead before Queens rallied to take seven of the next 12 points. Knotted at nine apiece, Queens would reel off 10 straight points and take 16 of 19 points to close out the set, 25-12. Proszenyak had five kills in that span while adding three aces.

In a more tightly contested third set, the Lions maintained a lead until halfway through the set. Ahead 14-12, Queens would take four of the next five points to reverse the momentum in their favor down the final stretch. Mars Hill would tie the game at 16 all with a kill from Sally Anne Johnson, her third of the contest. The Royals would close out the game on a three-point run to advance to the semifinals of the SAC tournament.

Proszeyak and Thompson each had 12 kills for the Royals followed by Casey Tarvin's 11 kills and game-high 24 digs. Kunz had a game-high 44 assists.

Ully Martins and Rebecca Butler each had a team-high 16 digs for the Lions. Sarah Pasour assisted on 13 points for the Lions. Johnson had a game-high three blocks.

The Lions wrap up their season with a 11-17 record while Queens improved to 21-7.