Mars Hill sweeps UVA Wise in home opener
The Mars Hill volleyball team (2-0, 2-0 SAC) swept UVA Wise (0-2, 0-1 SAC) in their 2021 home opener, 3-0.
MARS HILL, N.C. - The Mars Hill volleyball team (2-0, 2-0 SAC) swept UVA Wise (0-2, 0-1 SAC) in their 2021 home opener, 3-0.
With a raucous crowd behind them, Mars Hill stormed out to an early 10-2 lead. Grace Lilly and Jana Cuk recorded two kills apiece while Cuk added two service aces. Wise took advantage of several Lions' errors midway through the set to pull within five, 13-8, but another lengthy Lions' run of 7-0 saw the Lions lead by 12. Cuk added another three kills in the run. To conclude the set, Sarah Boler knocked down a kill in the middle of the court that saw the Lions go 1-0 into the second.
The Cavaliers jumped out to an 8-7 lead before the Lions rallied and scored five straight to take their second lead of the set. Mars Hill never looked back, building their lead to as many as six, 20-14, before ending the frame on a 5-3 run, capped off by an ace by Lilly. She recorded back-to-back kills prior to the ace.
Tied at 10-all in the final set, the Lions made their move, going on a 6-0 run. Cuk hammered down two kills while Sara Pasour got in on the action with a kill of her own. The Lions' large lead held as Cuk, with her 17th kill on the night, clinched Mars Hill's second straight sweep.
Cuk hit an outstanding .714 on the night with 17 kills on 21 attempts. She also recorded four aces and three digs. Lilly added nine kills and five digs along with one ace. Ully Martins led all players with 17 digs while Pasour collected 26 assists.
Mars Hill travels to Anderson, South Carolina on Tuesday, March 9 with a contest versus the Trojans. First serve is set for 7 p.m.