Mars Hill falls to Wingate in three

WINGATE, N.C. - The Mars Hill volleyball team (4-3, 4-3 SAC) was swept (27-29, 23-25, 12-25) Tuesday night versus Wingate (6-1, 6-1 SAC).

The Lions jumped out to an early 9-4 lead in the first set before the Bulldogs went on an 8-2 run to take a 12-11 lead off of back-to-back kills from Sophie Schaff.  Wingate would build their lead to 19-15 before the Lions reeled off four straight points, highlighted by a kill from Jordan Schmucker.  Mars Hill went up 24-23 following kills from Jana Cuk and Lauren Phillips and a Schaff error, but Wingate responded with two points to take a 25-24 lead.

Mars Hill fought off three set points, but were unable to hold off the Bulldogs as a kill from Molly Lambillotte and an ace from the first set to a close.  Cuk and Grace Lilly led the Lions with four kills apiece.  Lambillotte and Reese Blackley led all players with five kills apiece.

Mars Hill exploded out of the gates to start the second set, going up 8-3.  Following a Lions' error, the Bulldogs went on a 6-1 run, tying the game at nine.  Wingate, leading 23-18, saw the Lions string together five straight points to tie the game at 23 as Cuk dropped two kills during the run.  Wingate responded with back-to-back kills to close the set and go up 2-0.

Cuk, again, collected four kills in the set while Schaff led all players with five.

Tied at four in the third set, Wingate went on a 5-0 run and never looked back.  The Bulldogs hit a game-high .406 in the set compared to the Lions' .032.  Blackley led all players with six kills followed by Schaff's three.

Wingate hit .276 on the night to the Lions' .100 as Blackley and Schaff led all players with 13 and 12 kills, respectively.  Shannon Kasprak totaled a game-high 38 assists while Courtney Niesen led the team with 22 digs.

Cuk led the Lions with 10 kills followed by seven from Lilly.  The trio of Phillips, Sarah Goddard, and Sara Pasour each recorded four.  Pasour led the Lions with 15 assists while Ully Martins led the team with 22 digs.

Mars Hill returns to action on Friday, March 26 when they square off against Newberry.  The road game is set for a 7 p.m. first serve.