October 23, 2021

Lions split day two of PBC/SAC Crossover

The Mars Hill volleyball team (17-7) split their afternoon contests on day two of the PBC/SAC Crossover Saturday afternoon. They defeated USC Aiken (15-5) in four sets, but fell to Lander (10-10) in four in their final game of the weekend.

Mars Hill

17-7

S.C. Aiken

15-5

Final

Mars Hill 17-7

S.C. Aiken 15-5

Mars Hill

17-8

Lander

10-10

Final

Mars Hill 17-8

Lander 10-10

AIKEN, S.C. - The Mars Hill volleyball team (17-7) split their afternoon contests on day two of the PBC/SAC Crossover Saturday afternoon. They defeated USC Aiken (15-5) in four sets, but fell to Lander (10-10) in four in their final game of the weekend.

GAME ONE: MHU 3, USCA 1 (17-25, 25-19, 25-23, 35-33)

The Lions and Pacers battled back and forth in a dramatic fourth set that saw Mars Hill secure the victory. Trailing 33-32, Mars Hill reeled off three straight points with two kills coming from Sarah Goddard.

Mars Hill hit .169 in the fourth to USC Aiken's .149 and out hit them on the day .218 to .212. The Lions hit a dominant .400 in the second set, recording 16 kills on 30 attempts. The freshman duo of Timmons Yates and Nikkayla Stewart combined for 7.5 blocks (1 solo block, 13 block assists).

Notable Performers

USCA

Kills - Alie Smith (21), Alisha Pitt (13)

Digs - Alie Smith (23), Kari Mercer (22)

Assists - Caroline Foster (41), Sophie Meredith (16)

Blocks - Alisha Pitt (1 BS, 1 BA), Alie Smith (1 BS) & Anita Cookey-Gam (2 BA)

MHU

Kills - Jana Cuk (17), Grace Lilly (15)

Digs - Ully Martins (27), Jordan Schmucker (15)

Assists - Jordan Schmucker (43), Ully Martins (7)

Blocks - Nikkayla Stewart (1 BS, 6 BA), Timmons Yates (7 BA)

GAME TWO: LAN 3, MHU 1 (16-25, 25-16, 14-25, 19-25)

The Lander Bearcats put the lone blemish on the Lions' weekend record, defeating Mars Hill in four sets. Lander hit .256 as a team including a game-high .359 in the third set. They knocked down 59 kills to the Lions' 36 and collected seven service aces, led by Madilyn Reed's four.

The Lions close out the tournament with a 3-1 record and wrap up their eight-game road trip with a record of 6-2 (3-1 SAC).

Notable Performers

LAN

Kills - Christina Aguayo (20), Maya Walker (13)

Digs - Patricia Pantoja (26), Madilyn Reed (17)

Assists - Madilyn Reed (26), Maddie Moss (21)

Blocks - Daria de Carvalho Peixe (1 BS, 1 BA), Maya Walker (2 BA)

MHU

Kills - Sarah Goddard & Grace Lilly (7), Kelly Jakaitis (6)

Digs - Ully Martins (16), Grace Lilly & Jordan Schmucker (12)

Assists - Jordan Schmucker (22), Eloise Rique (9)

Blocks - Jana Cuk (1 BS) & Nikkayla Stewart & Grace Lilly (2 BA), Sarah Boler & Kelly Jakaitis (1 BA)

The Lions return home on Friday, October 29 when they face Queens in a return to South Atlantic Conference action. First serve inside Chambers Gymnasium is set for 7 p.m.