Lions Fall Short At Catawba

SALISBURY, N.C. – The Lions volleyball team dropped a South Atlantic Conference road contest to Catawba on Friday, September 23 inside Goodman Gym. Mars Hill took the first set, but was unable to pick up its first conference win, dropping the match by scores of 25-22, 25-23, 25-20, and 25-23. MHU falls to 1-8 overall and 0-6 within the SAC, while the Indians improve to 4-6 overall and 3-3 in the league.

Lauren Hochstetler notched her third double-double of the season with a team-high 12 kills to go along with 16 digs. Rebecca Butler chipped in 11 kills, while hitting an impressive .320 for the match. Sara Fahrenbrook and Andie Russell fueled the offense with 20 and 19 assists, respectively.

Hochstetler got the Lions off on the right foot in the first set with back-to-back service aces, but the Indians battled back and a seesaw battle ensued. The set included 10 ties and five lead changes. With the scored knotted at 18-all, Mars Hill used a 6-2 burst to get within set point. Catawba tallied the next two points, but a kill from Hochstetler gave the Lions a 1-0 match lead.

Set two was very competitive as well, with neither team controlling more than a three-point advantage, until an attack error from Catawba gave the Lions a 21-17 lead. Not wanting to fall into a 0-2 deficit in the match, CC collected five straight points to take a one point lead at 22-21. Mars Hill deadlocked the match at 22, but Catawba took three of the next four points to even the match at one set apiece.

The third frame would be no different as the two teams alternated the first 38 points. With the score even at 19, Catawba used a 6-1 run to take the set and a 2-1 match lead.

Trying to advance the game to a decisive fifth set, Mars Hill jumped out to a 7-4 lead early in set four. However, the Indians tied the set at 10 before going on a massive 7-0 run to take a commanding 17-10 lead. The Lions would not back down, clawing their way back to within a single point (24-23) after a rejection from Sally Anne Johnson and Brooks Green, but a kill by the Indians on the next point put away any hopes of a comeback.

Mars Hill will be back in action tomorrow, welcoming Queens into Stanford Arena for a SAC showdown. First serve is scheduled for 2 p.m.