Lions Fall to USC Aiken, Augusta on Friday

AIKEN, S.C.- The Mars Hill volleyball team dropped a pair of matches in the SAC/Peach Belt crossover at USC Aiken on Friday, falling to USC Aiken 3-0 and Augusta University 3-1. The Lions are 4-11 after today's contests.

USC Aiken 3, Mars Hill 0 (25-23, 25-16, 25-19)

Lauren Hochstetler led the Lions with nine kills while Rebecca Butler tallied 10 digs to lead the Mars Hill defense. The Pacers took a 4-0 lead before Mars Hill evened the set at 12 following a 4-0 run. The teams would trade the next eight points with a Mary Kate Griffin kill drawing the teams together at 17. USC Aiken got a pair of kills with the teams tied at 23 to claim the first set.

Mars Hill held a 7-6 lead in the second set before the Pacers used a 5-0 run to lead 18-10. Mars Hill cut the lead to five but would get no closer. In the third set, the Lions held a 7-4 lead before USC Aiken took an 11-9 lead. The hosts would open up an 18-11 lead but Mars Hill battled back to a 20-16 deficit. Mars Hill would again pull to within four but would get no closer.

Augusta 3, Mars Hill 1 (25-20, 25-17, 23-25, 25-22)

Rebecca Butler led the Lions with 15 kills, followed by Mary Kate Griffin with 12 kills. Victoria Kaiser had 17 digs to lead the Lions. With the first set tied at 15, Augusta went on a 4-1 run for a 20-16 lead. Mars Hill pulled to within two, 22-20, before the Jaguars scored the final three points of the set. Augusta took a 2-0 lead in the match with a 25-17 second set win aided by an 8-1 start.

Mars Hill enjoyed a 17-11 lead in the third set before Augusta tied the frame at 18 following a kill. With Augusta leading 21-18, Mars Hill scored four straight points for a 22-21 lead. The Lions broke a 23-all tie with the last two points of the set to pull within one.

After the Lions pulled to within one, 10-9, in the fourth set, Augusta went on a 9-3 run for a 19-12 lead. Mars Hill battled back but would fall three points short.

The Lions travel to Lander on Saturday for a 3 p.m. match against the Lander University Bearcats.