MHU defeats Tusculum in five-set thriller
Katilyn Grant posts career-high 19 kills.
MARS HILL, N.C. - The Mars Hill volleyball team (14-9, 11-5 SAC) defeated Tusculum (12-13, 10-7 SAC) with a five-set win Tuesday night inside Chambers Gymnasium.
The Lions entered the fourth set down 2-1. Late in the frame, the Lions clawed their way past the Pioneers to even the match, forcing a fifth set.
Despite being outhit .333-to-.211, the Lions took advantage of several Pioneers' service errors in the fifth. The Lions redeemed an earlier five-set defeat to Tusculum this year with a home, five-set victory to create separation in the South Atlantic Conference standings.
Tusculum took the first set after erasing three Lions' set points. Both teams hit below .100 in the frame, each recording 13 kills. Mars Hill responded with a dominant second set, hitting a team-high .314, holding the Pioneers to a second straight set under .100.
Once again, both teams matched each other with 12 kills apiece, but Tusculum capitalized on several Lions' errors to go up 2-1 on the night.
The duo of Martina Foster and McKayla Willey each posted 14 kills for the Pioneers.
Katilyn Grant led all players with a career-high 19 kills, adding six blocks. Both Skylar Ogden and Timmons Yates recorded 14 kills apiece, hitting .270 and .243, respectively. Laela Jimenez led all players with 37 digs followed by 22 from Ioana Poenaru. Jimenez added a match-high four aces.
Mackenzie Schmucker collected 27 assists while Alyssa Kornegay added 25 and 11 digs for the double-double.
Mars Hill wraps up their road schedule on Friday, November 15 when they face Newberry. First serve is set for 6 p.m.
