Lions Sweep Lees-McRae

FLORENCE, S.C.-- Mars Hill's volleyball team swept Lees-McRae Saturday afternoon to wrap-up play at the Francis Marion Tournament, held at the Smith University Center.

The Lions earned 25-15, 25-15 and 25-19 victories. Toni Cole led MHU with 13 kills on a blistering .522 attack percentage and added three digs and a pair of service aces. Hannah Rowe tied a career-high with nine kills to go along with a career-high 13 digs and three service aces. Lees-McRae was led by Jordan Banta's 13 kills. Mars Hill improved to 2-2 on the season. The Bobcats are now 0-4.

Mars Hill hit .280 over the course of the match while holding Lees-McRae to a .117 attack percentage. Marissa Wixson narrowly missed a double-double with 11 kills and nine digs. Maggie Murphy added a team-high 14 digs. Courtney Worthington spread the ball around with 19 assists, while Hannah Wilson added 12 assists.

Angela Morse added seven kills for Lees-McRae. Molly Corhn recorded a match-high 18 digs for LMC.

A seven-point run in the first set helped MHU open up a 17-9 lead. Rowe put away three kills during that stretch. Victoria Kaiser held serve during that stretch and recorded a pair of aces, while Cole added a pair of kills. The Bobcats were able to pull within five, but the Lions rallied to earn the final five points and a 25-15 victory.

The Lions wasted no time in opening up a 10-2 lead in the second set. The Bobcats got no closer than four the rest of the way. MHU hit .280 in the set while holding LMC to an .069 clip on their way to the 25-15 victory.

A couple of three-point runs helped the Lions open up a 17-12 lead in the final set. Two Wixson kills helped spark the first three-point surge, while a pair of kills by Rowe and a kill by Cole provided the offense during the second. LMC pulled within 18-16, but three straight from Lions capped by a Worthington kill restored the five-point cushion. Wilson put away the Bobcats for good with the final kill for the 25-19 margin.

Mars Hill will open South Atlantic Conference play this Tuesday, Sep. 10 at Lincoln Memorial. The match is slated to begin at 7:00 p.m.