Lions sweep Newberry to win fourth straight
The Mars Hill volleyball team (7-3, 1-1 SAC) coasted to a three set win over Newberry (5-4, 0-2 SAC) on Tuesday night to earn their first South Atlantic Conference win of the year. The win was their fourth straight sweep of an opponent.
MARS HILL, N.C. - The Mars Hill volleyball team (7-3, 1-1 SAC) coasted to a three set win over Newberry (5-4, 0-2 SAC) on Tuesday night to earn their first South Atlantic Conference win of the year. The win was their fourth straight sweep of an opponent.
The Lions took the first set by a score of 25-20 with Sally Anne Johnson hammering down five of her game-high 11 kills in the opening frame. Mars Hill added three service aces in the first set, two coming from Sara Pasour. With a 19-10 lead, Mars Hill sacrificed five straight points to Newberry before righting the ship and closing out the set with a kill from Maddie Spurgeon.
Newberry controlled most of the second set early on until the teams were tied at 13 all. The Lions would capitalize on four Newberry attack errors and add kills from Sarah Goddard, Dayanna Barbosa and Johnson to take seven of the next eight points and go into the latter stages up 20-14. Attack errors plagued the Wolves throughout the contest as an error from Toni-Anne Whitlow gave Mars Hill the second set by a score of 25-18.
Mars Hill roared out of the gates in the third set, taking the first six points in a row and 11 of the first 13 in the set. Of those 11 points earned, seven were off of Wolves' attack errors. The Lions continued to dominate in the third, at one point holding a 22-3 lead. Newberry threatened late, taking eight of the next 10 points, but as it was in the first set, Spurgeon's kill sealed the victory for the Lions.
The Lions service game drummed up eight aces on the night, including two apiece for Pasour and Sarah Lorick.
The SAC's leading blocker Zoe Dinkins added four to her total and to the team's collective 10 on the night. Johnson had two solo blocks along with three block assists to go along with her 11 kills.
Angela Gore led the Wolves offense with six kills while Kensley Jordan was stout defensively, racking up 20 digs. Pasour had a double-double with 14 digs and assists on the night. Abby King also chipped in 14 assists.
Mars Hill returns to action on Saturday, September 15 when they travel to Charlotte to take on Wingate. Action is set for a 2 p.m. start time.