Lions Defeat Catawba in Four for Fourth-Straight Win

MARS HILL, N.C.-- Mars Hill's volleyball team extended their winning streak to four with a four-set victory over Catawba in South Atlantic Conference action Saturday afternoon in Stanford Arena.

After dropping the first set 25-23, the Lions rallied to earn 25-16, 25-21 and 25-13 victories to earn the win. Marissa Wixson led MHU with a match-high 23 kills on a .312 hitting percentage and added seven digs. Toni Cole hit a scalding .562 on her way to 20 kills and added seven digs. Erin Morant led Catawba with 10 kills and assisted on five blocks. Mars Hill improved to 6-4 overall and 4-2 in conference matches. Catawba fell to 2-6 overall and 2-4 in SAC play.

Courtney Worthington notched a career-high 62 assists for MHU and added eight digs. MaryKate Griffin added 13 kills. Victoria Kaiser paced the defensive effort with a match-high 19 digs and added five service aces and six kills on a .667 hitting percentage. Maggie Murphy added 15 digs for the Lions.

Haley Lanier added nine kills for Catawba. Kaytee Frabotta notched 32 assists and added seven digs. McKenzie Garrison led the Indians with 14 digs.

Catawba broke open a 21-21 tie late in the first set with three straight points. Taylor Houser notched a service ace, with Morant following with a kill and Lion attack error. Wixson cut the deficit to 24-23 with a pair of kills, but a kill by Morant gave the Indians the first set 25-23.

After Falling behind 4-0 early in the second set, MHU rallied back to take an 11-8 lead with a six-point run. Cole held serve for five points. Wixson and Regan Macomson combined for two blocks, while Wixson added two kills and Cole notched a service ace. MHU pushed the lead to 17-9 with Worthington serving. Worthington notched an ace, with Wixson adding two kills and Kaiser adding another. Catawba got no closer than four the rest of the way in the 25-16 Lion victory.

A quick 4-1 start with two kills by Griffin and a service ace by Kaiser built an MHU lead they would not relinquish in the third set. Catawba got no closer than two the rest of the way. A kill by Griffin closed out the Indians, 25-21.

A 12-point run broke open a 3-2 game to put the final set out of reach. Kaiser held serve for 11 straight points and notched four aces during that stretch. Cole, Wixson and Griffin each added kills. Catawba never threatened the rest of the way as MHU closed out the win, 25-13.

Mars Hill will look to extend their winning streak to five when they travel to Newberry for a 7:00 p.m. match Tuesday, Oct. 1.