Murphy Becomes All-Time Digs Leader as Lions Sweep Catawba

SALISBURY, N.C.-- Mars Hill's Maggie Murphy became the school's all-time leader in digs as the Lions swept Catawba in a South Atlantic Conference match Saturday afternonn at Goodman Gym.

The Lions won in straight sets 25-18, 25-22 and 25-19. Murphy totaled a team-high 15 digs to break a tie with Nicole Silver (1996-99) as the school's all-time digs leader. The senior libero now has 2,231 digs in her Lion career. Marissa Wixson paced the offensive effort with 16 kills on an efficient .333 hitting percentage. McKenzie Garrison notched 10 kills to pace Catawba. Mars Hill improved to 13-8 overall and 11-6 in SAC matches. MHU is in a three-way tie for third place in the league. Catawba falls to 4-15 overall and 4-13 in conference play.

MaryKate Griffin added 13 kills for MHU and hit .256. Freshman Lindsay Austin notched a career-high 13 digs. Hannah Wilson (season-high 25 assists, five digs) and Andie Russell (14 assists, three service aces) set a Lion attack that hit .321 on the afternoon.

Erin Morant notched nine kills for the Indians. Leah Ryan recorded a team-high 11 digs, while Taylor Houser added 10 digs. Kaytee Frabotta narrowly missed a double-double with 33 assists and nine digs.

Murphy became the Lions' all-time digs leader early in an opening set MHU never trailed in. Regan Macomson started Mars Hill off on the right track with a kill. Macomson notched five kills and five digs in the match. MHU led by seven on multiple occasions, including the final 25-18 margin.

Mars Hill broke open a 15-all tie in the second set with four-straight points. Three kills by Griffin and a kill by Macomson provided the offense as Wilson held serve. The Indians pulled within 23-21, but a kill by Wixson before the teams traded service errors gave MHU the set, 25-22.

Catawba took an 11-7 lead in the third set, but six straight by the Lions gave MHU a lead they wouldn't relinquish. Macomson notched two kills, while Amber McClure added another during that stretch. McClure notched four kills and five digs in the match. The Lions closed out the match 25-19 on a block by Griffin and Macomson.

Mars Hill opens a three-match homestand Tuesday evening when they host Newberry at 7:00 p.m.