Mars Hill splits day two of Tony Fontanelle Memorial Volleyball Tournament

MARS HILL, N.C. - The Mars Hill volleyball team (2-1) split their set of matches on day two of the Tony Fontanelle Memorial Volleyball Tournament, defeating Shorter (1-2) in four sets, but falling to King (1-2) in three sets.

MATCH ONE: MHU 3, SHO 1

Mars Hill took the first two sets, forcing Shorter to commit 22 attack errors in the two frames. The Hawks turned the tables in the third, hitting a team-high .244 in the third set to force a fourth frame.

The Lions dominated the fourth, hitting a match-high .294 and holding the Hawks to just 12 points. 

Timmons Yates and Katilyn Grant led the team with 10 kills apiece while Grant recorded a match-high five blocks. Jada Cannon and Ioana Poenaru each added nine kills while Poenaru served a match-high six aces.

Laela Jimenez led all players with 33 digs as Jordan Schmucker posted her second double-double of the season with 30 assists and 13 digs.

MATCH TWO: KU 3, MHU 0

The Lions dropped their first match of the season, falling to King in three sets.

The Tornado dropped 15 kills apiece in both the first and second sets as they hit a match-high .235 in the second set. King, trailing 22-20 in the third, took six of the last eight points to claim their first win of the season.

Katilyn Grant continued her strong play, leading the Lions with 10 kills and adding three blocks. Jada Cannon added eight kills followed by five apiece from Brooke Hoffman and Nikkayla Stewart. Laela Jimenez led the team with 16 digs while Jordan Schmucker collected 18 assists.

Mars Hill returns to the court on Friday, September 8 when they face Lees-McRae at King University. The neutral site match is set for a 4:30 p.m. first serve.