Poenaru racks up career-high 20 kills in MHU's eighth-straight win

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. - The Mars Hill volleyball team (13-8, 10-4 SAC) defeated Carson-Newman (15-7, 11-3 SAC) in four sets (25-17, 18-25, 25-19, 25-23) Wednesday evening to split the season series.

The win marks the Lions' eighth in a row.

The Lions held Carson-Newman to a -.093 hitting percentage in the first set, but the Eagles responded in the second. Carson-Newman hit a match-high .333 with 16 kills on 39 attacks in the frame to knot the game at one set apiece.

Mars Hill matched the Eagles' kill output in the third, hitting a team-high .286 to go up 2-1 in the third. In the fourth, tied at 21-21 late, the Lions won four of the next six points with kills from Skylar Ogden and Jada Cannon to secure the win.

Ioana Poenaru led all players with a career-high 20 kills and 26 digs for the double-double. She hit .250 on the night. Katilyn Grant added 10 kills and four blocks followed by six apiece from defending SAC WePlayed Sports Defensive Player of the Week Nikkayla Stewart and Ogden. 

Laela Jimenez added 21 digs and five assists while Stewart and Cannon added three blocks apiece. Alyssa Kornegay led the team with 26 assists with Mackenzie Schmucker racking up 20 on the night.

Mars Hill returns home on Friday, November 8 when they host Wingate on Senior Day. First serve is set for 7 p.m. inside Chambers Gymnasium.