Mars Hill claws way to thrilling five-set win over Tusculum
The Mars Hill volleyball team (5-0, 1-0 SAC) rallied from two sets down to defeat Tusculum (0-5, 0-2 SAC) in five sets (23-25, 22-25, 25-22, 27-25, 15-7) in their South Atlantic Conference opener Tuesday night.
GREENEVILLE, Tenn. - The Mars Hill volleyball team (5-0, 1-0 SAC) rallied from two sets down to defeat Tusculum (0-5, 0-2 SAC) in five sets (23-25, 22-25, 25-22, 27-25, 15-7) in their South Atlantic Conference opener Tuesday night.
Mars Hill kicked off the fifth set in dominant fashion, opeing the frame on a 6-1 run that saw Jana Cuk record two kills in that span. The Lions never looked back in the fifth, leading for the remainder of the contest, eventually closed out by Cuk's third kill of the set. Sarah Goddard added three kills in the fifth.
The Lions hit a game-high .316 in the fifth to Tusculum's -.045.
The Lions led for a majority of the first set until Tusculum rallied late to come from behind, trailing 23-21, to take the first frame 25-23 on a 4-0 run that saw three Lions errors. Tusculum hit .000 in the first, recording 12 kills and 12 errors.
The story was the same in the second frame as the Lions led late, but a pushing Pioneers team, tied at 22, won the final three points of the set to go up 2-0, getting two kills in that span from Carli Pigza.
Tied at 19 in the third set, Mars Hill went on a 6-3 run to take the frame. The Lions' defense stood tall, forcing Tusculum to hit .000 in the frame with 11 kills and 11 errors. Goddard and Cuk each posted two kills in the final stretch for Mars Hill.
In the fourth set, the teams battled to four different ties in the final 11 points. Tied at 21, Tusculum went up by two, but the Lions answered with two points of their own. Trailing 25-24, Mars Hill's Emma Vacha's first kill was the catalyst for a 3-0 run that saw Mars Hill tie the match at two. Vacha also recorded the set-winning kill, her second and final on the night.
Mars Hill hit .123 as a team to Tusculum's .053. The Pioneers committed 47 attack errors.
Goddard led the Lions with 16 kills and six blocks (1 BS, 5 BA). She added 12 digs for the double-double. Cuk ended the contest with 13 kills followed by Grace Lilly's 12, who added 11 digs for a double-double.
Jordan Schmucker led all players with 37 assists while Laela Jimenez set a new career-high with 34 digs.
Mars Hill returns to the court on Friday, September 9 when they face UVA Wise on the road. First serve is set for 7 p.m.