Lions wrap up PBC/SAC Crossover with split
The Mars Hill volleyball team (9-8) defeated Georgia College (6-9) in straight sets, but fell to USC Aiken (17-1) in three sets to pick up the split on the final day of PBC/SAC Crossover action.
MARS HILL, N.C. - The Mars Hill volleyball team (9-8) defeated Georgia College (6-9) in straight sets, but fell to USC Aiken (17-1) in three sets to pick up the split on the final day of PBC/SAC Crossover action.
GAME 1: MHU 3, GC 0
A dominant defensive effort led the Lions to the straight sets victory over the Bobcats. The Lions totaled 13 team blocks with the trio of Sally Anne Johnson, Lauren Phillips, and Eriana Ansley each recorded five block assists. Ansley added two solo blocks.
After jumping out to a 7-3 lead, Georgia College reeled off eight of the next nine points to take an 11-8 lead. The Lions battled back midway through the frame to retake the lead following a 16-11 deficit, taking seven of the next eight points, capitalizing on five Bobcats attack errors. The Lions secured the first set off of Sarah Goddard's third kill of the set.
Trailing 9-8 in the second set, the Lions went on a 6-0 run to take a lead they would not relinquish for the remainder of the frame. The Lions closed out the set on a 5-0 run with Ansley leading the Lions offense with three kills.
Tied at 12 in the third set, Mars Hill took the next six points, two of which were aces from Makaila Vang, to hold an 18-12 lead. Taking four of the last five points, the Lions claimed their second win of the weekend.
Goddard and Johnson each had a team-high nine kills. Ansley and Grace Lilly added six kills while Phillips led the team with 22 digs.
GAME 2: USCA 3, MHU 0
The Lions fell in their final game of the weekend in three sets to the USC Aiken Pacers. The Pacers outhit Mars Hill .264 to .089 in the contest.
Led by kills from Alie Smith and Alli Bell, USC Aiken opened the contest with an 8-2 edge. Despite a late push at the end of the set that saw Mars Hill go on a 5-1 run, the Pacers put Mars Hill away by a score of 25-21.
Tied at 12 in the second set, the Pacers took advantage of a Mars Hill attack error, allowing them to take a lead they'd hold for the rest of the frame to go up 2-0. The Lions trailed 19-15 and went on a 3-0 run to pull within one, however, a kill by Christine Carroll turned the tide back in favor of USC Aiken.
The Pacers closed out the contest with a dominant third set that saw the team hit .343 in the frame. Carroll and Smith led all players with 17 and 16 kills, respectively. Alli Bell recorded 48 assists in the contest.
Sarah Goddard led the Lions with 11 kills while hitting .370. Lauren Phillips added seven kills and Ully Martins led the team with 20 digs.
Mars Hill returns to action on Friday, October 18 on the road in a return to South Atlantic Conference play when they face Newberry.