Volleyball Wins at Coker

HARTSVILLE, S.C. – The Lions' volleyball team defeated SAC foe Coker College 3-1 Friday night at Timberlake-Lawton Gym. Mars Hill improved to 16-10 overall and 13-8 in the SAC. The Cobras fell to 3-26 on the season and 0-21 in the league.

MHU won by scores of 25-12, 25-17, 19-25 and 25-17. Marissa Wixson and MaryKate Griffin led the Lions' attack with 15 and 12 kills in the win, respectively. Wixson also led the squad in digs with 13. Courtney Worthington and Hannah Wilson supplied the Lions' offense with 40 combined assists. Worthington led the way with 22. Lindsay Austin recorded 12 digs while Maggie Murphy added 11. Victoria Kiser rounded out the double-digit dig leaders with 10 in the contest.

Taylor Willis led Coker with 15 kills and 14 digs. Kelly Stine added 11 kills while Samantha Celek tallied a match high 43 assists in the loss.

The Lions jumped out to a commanding 19-3 lead in the first set due in large part to a .500 attack percentage. MHU made only one error in set one and in set two. The second set was a closer frame. After a Lion attack error brought Coker within a single point (16-15) of the Lions, MHU answered going on a 9-3 run to close the set with a 25-17 win after a Regan Macomson kill.

Coker won the third set as the Lions recorded more attack errors (11) than kills (10). After Wixson scored the first point in the set, a Lion attack error gave the Cobras a 2-1 advantage they would not relinquish. MHU cut Coker's lead to 23-18 after a kill from Wixson but the Cobras outscored the Lions 2-1 in the next three points to take game three.

Mars Hill regained their composure in the fourth set winning 25-17 behind a .333 hitting percentage. After the set was tied at 2-all, the Lions went on a 9-4 run to lead 11-6 after a kill by Macomson. MHU never looked back as they cruised the rest of the game to obtain the road victory in Hartsville.

The Lions will face no. 9 Wingate University on Saturday afternoon in Cuddy Arena. Match time is slated for 5 p.m.