Lions Cruise Past Tusculum In Four Sets

MARS HILL, N.C. – The Mars Hill women's volleyball team picked up a pivotal South Atlantic Conference win against Tusculum inside Chambers Gymnasium on Tuesday, October 18. The Lions improved to 4-15 overall and 3-9 in the league after dropping the Pioneers 3-1 (25-19, 18-15, 25-18, 25-21). TC falls to 10-11 overall and 5-8 in the conference.

Mary Kate Griffin and Rebecca Butler led the charge offensively for the Lions, compiling team-highs of 11 and 10 kills, respectively. Victoria Kaiser tallied 19 digs and Sara Fahrenbrook dished out a game-high 31 assists. Sally Anne Johnson defended the net with two solo blocks and four block assists.

Playing in front of a home crowd for the first time in 10 days the Lions came out of the gate with an early 6-3 lead in set one. Tusculum battled back and forced three ties, the last at 14-14 before collecting three straight points, gaining a lead at 17-14. However, Mars Hill kicked it into another gear, ripping off 11 of the next 13 points to take a 1-0 match lead.

Tusculum tied the match with a 25-18 second set win. The set included 11 ties and seven lead changes until the Pioneers took a 17-all set and turned it into a rout with an explosive 8-1 run.

Set three was all Mars Hill. After an early 4-4 tie, the Lions used a 6-1 run to push ahead 10-5, forcing a timeout from TC. That lead would not be relinquished as the Blue and Gold kept the pedal to the metal en route to a convincing 25-18 set win and a 2-1 match lead.

Not wanting to go to a fifth set, Mars Hill set the tone early in the fourth set, claiming a 7-1 lead early. MHU controlled the entire set despite the fact the Pioneers shook off four straight match points. With the score 24-17 in favor of the home team, Tusculum reeled off four in a row, but Griffin put a stop to the potential comeback with a monstrous kill off the block to secure the win for the Lions.

Laryssa Welch paced the Pioneers with 14 kills, while Mariah Lewis added 12. Hallie Zumack produced 27 assists and Melissa Mazur anchored the defense with 23 digs.

The Lions will return to action on Friday, October 21, traveling to Hickory, N.C. to face conference rival Lenoir Rhyne. The Bears currently sit one spot ahead of the Lions in the SAC standings. The match is set to begin at 7 p.m.