Butler's Big Night Not Enough as Lions Fall to Lenoir Rhyne

MARS HILL, N.C. – Junior outside hitter Rebecca Butler produced her best match of the season, but it was not enough as the Mars Hill volleyball team dropped its home opener to Lenoir Rhyne, 3-2, on Friday, September 16. Butler recorded a game-high 16 kills to go along with 20 digs, but the Bears pulled out the win with set scores of 19-25, 25-15, 18-25, 25-14, and 17-15.

Lauren Hochstetler picked up her second consecutive double-double with a 10 kill, 14 dig performance, while Mary Kate Griffin finished with eight kills and 22 digs. Victoria Kaiser once again led the Lions defensively with 27 digs.

Playing in front of a home crowd for the first time on the season, the Lions came out swinging in the opening set, jumping out to a quick 9-3 advantage. LR called a timeout to stop the bleeding and it was just what the doctor ordered as the Bears clawed their way back with a mini 6-3 run. However, Mars Hill regained the momentum with a 6-1 run of its own and never looked back, taking set one 25-19.

Not wanting to go down 2-0 in the match, Lenoir Rhyne dominated the opening of the second set, racing out to an 11-4 lead. That spread would remain intact throughout the frame, ending with the Bears taking the set 25-15.

Set three mirrored the first with the Lions being the aggressor early. Following a massive attack from Sally Anne Johnson, Mars Hill held a comfortable 12-5 lead. That lead ballooned to 21-11 after a kill from Hochstetler and the remaining of the set was all academic as the Lions jumped up 2-1 in the match with a 25-18, set three win.

Lenoir Rhyne made short work of the Lions in set four, controlling the match from beginning to end, ultimately winning the set 25-14 and forcing the decisive fifth set.

After falling behind 5-1 to start the final set and eventually 10-7, Mars Hill rallied with an 5-2 spurt to knot the score at 12-all. From that point the two teams traded the next four points. However, Lenoir Rhyne, with the score tied at 14, took two of the next three points to take the final set, 17-15 and the match 3-2.

The Lions will have a quick turnaround as they play host to the Brevard Tornado tomorrow afternoon. First serve is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.