Lions felled in five-set thriller with Tusculum
The Mars Hill volleyball team (6-3, 2-2 SAC) was defeated in five sets (25-18, 15-25, 18-25, 26-24, 10-15) by Tusculum (8-3, 4-0 SAC) Tuesday night.
MARS HILL, N.C. - The Mars Hill volleyball team (6-3, 2-2 SAC) was defeated in five sets (25-18, 15-25, 18-25, 26-24, 10-15) by Tusculum (8-3, 4-0 SAC) Tuesday night.
The Lions dominated the first set, leading by as many as 13 (22-9), hitting a team-high .244. Nikkayla Stewart led the Lions with four kills in the frame followed by three apiece from Ioana Poenaru, Katilyn Grant, and Jada Cannon.
Tusculum answered in the second, holding the Lions to a -.097 hitting percentage. They took the second 25-15 with Madison Adkins' four kills leading the Pioneers' offense. In the third, Tusculum hit .208 with 14 kills. Aly Freeland led all players with eight kills in the frame.
Mars Hill battled in the fourth, forcing their first fifth set of the 2023 campaign. In the fourth, there were 14 ties and seven lead changes with the Lions coming away with the frame, 26-24. Brooke Hoffman led the Lions with four kills while Emiah Burrows racked up seven kills for Tusculum.
The Pioneers opened the fifth on a 5-1 run and ultimately held off the Lions' late charge. Freeland knocked down four of the Pioneer's 12 fifth set kills.
Freeland led all players with 23 kills and 23 digs for the double-double. Burrows ended the night with 16 kills.
Grant led the Lions with 11 kills followed by Cannon's eight. Cannon led the team with 27 digs followed by 25 from Laela Jimenez. Jordan Schmucker picked up 32 assists, eclipsing 300 on the season.
The Lions take on Coker on the road, Friday, September 22. First serve is set for 7 p.m.