Mars Hill sweeps season series with Pioneers
The Mars Hill volleyball team (13-2, 8-2 SAC) defeated Tusculum (6-7, 6-4 SAC) in a five-set thriller (25-22, 19-25, 26-24, 18-25, 15-12) Tuesday night inside Chambers Gymnasium.
MARS HILL, N.C. - The Mars Hill volleyball team (13-2, 8-2 SAC) defeated Tusculum (6-7, 6-4 SAC) in a five-set thriller (25-22, 19-25, 26-24, 18-25, 15-12) Tuesday night inside Chambers Gymnasium.
The Lions roared back late in the first set to go up 1-0 as they were led offensively by Sarah Goddard's six kills. Mars Hill hit .146 as a team in the frame, recording 13 kills and collecting 28 digs.
Tusculum answered in the second, led by Peyton Gash's kills. Tusculum hit .171 in the second set to even the contest.
Mars Hill, trailing 21-19 late in the third, rallied to take the frame 26-24, capped off by a kill from the returning Grace Lilly. Goddard posted four kills and an ace in the 7-3 run. The Lions hit .191 in the third.
Tusculum controlled the fourth set as Emiah Burrows pounded seven of the Pioneers' 14 kills in the frame as they hit a team-high .222 to send the game into a fifth and deciding set for the second time of the season.
Mars Hill's offense rose to the occasion, hitting a game-high .292, led by four kills from Jana Cuk, including the game-winning swing. Lilly added three in the set.
Burrowes led all players with 26 kills and hit .246 on the night. Carly Sosnowski led all players with 37 digs.
The Lions were led by Goddard with 24 kills, tying her second best outing of her career, while she added 20 digs for the double-double. Lilly added 12 kills followed by Cuk's 10 on the night. Cuk led the Lions with four blocks (1 BS, 3 BA). Jordan Schmucker led all players with 45 assists and Laela Jimenez collected a team-high 29 digs.
Mars Hill hosts Catawba on Friday, October 7 in game two of their four-game homestand. First serve is set for 7 p.m.