Mars Hill sweeps season series versus Tusculum
The Mars Hill volleyball team (16-11, 10-9 SAC) defeated Tusculum (6-18, 4-14 SAC) in four sets in their regular season road finale Tuesday evening.
GREENEVILLE, Tenn. - The Mars Hill volleyball team (16-11, 10-9 SAC) defeated Tusculum (6-18, 4-14 SAC) in four sets in their regular season road finale Tuesday evening.
In a back and forth affair in the first set, the Pioneers were able to take the frame with a late rally. Tied at 16-16, the Pioneers would reel off four of the next five points and end the set on a four point run once the Lions battled back to tie the game once again at 21-all. Sally Anne Johnson recorded three blocks in the first set which elevated her to sole possession of third place in school history in the category.
Trailing for a majority of the second set, the Lions were able to roar back and tie the game one. Down 20-12, led by three kills from Maddie Spurgeon and two aces from Sara Pasour, Mars Hill would take 13 of the final 16 points to enter the third set tied.
The Lions would once again find themselves trailing early on in the third, but a five point run allowed Mars Hill to take an 8-6 lead. Mars Hill would not trail for the remainder of the set and were led by Spurgeon and Dayanna Barbosa's three kills apiece.
Mars Hill closed out Tusculum in dominate fashion, taking seven of the final 10 points of the contest to win their second game in a row and seal the season series. Spurgeon had two kills in the run while Elizabeth Kaeser recorded one kill and one ace.
Gabby Gray led all players with 18 kills on the night, followed by Cassie Born's 17. Born added 15 digs for the double-double. Melissa Mazur had a game-high 37 digs while Alyssa Rojas led all players with 39 assists.
Spurgeon ended the game with a team-high 14 kills and added a team-high five blocks. Kaeser had 13 kills and 28 digs for the double-double. Sarah Goddard also earned a double-double with 12 kills and 11 digs. Abby King had four kills on eight attempts, 12 digs and 21 assists. Pasour led the Lions with 22 assists.
Mars Hill concludes the regular season with a 2 p.m. contest versus Carson-Newman on Saturday, November 3rd inside Stanford Arena.
