September 10, 2021

Mars Hill sweeps day one of King University Tournament

The Mars Hill volleyball team (5-1) swept both Young Harris (0-5) and King (1-1) to open up the King University Tournament on Friday.

Young Harris

0-5,0-0 Peach Belt

Mars Hill

4-1,0-0 SAC

Final

Young Harris 0-5,0-0 Peach Belt

Mars Hill 4-1,0-0 SAC

Mars Hill

5-1,0-0 SAC

King (Tenn.)

1-1,0-0 Conference C

Final

Mars Hill 5-1,0-0 SAC

King (Tenn.) 1-1,0-0 Conference C

BRISTOL, Tenn. - The Mars Hill volleyball team (5-1) swept both Young Harris (0-5) and King (1-1) to open up the King University Tournament on Friday.

GAME ONE: MHU 3, YHC 0

The Lions rolled Young Harris (25-14, 25-16, 25-12) in their tournament-opening contest, hitting .367 and over .300 in each set.

The Mountain Lions committed 16 attack errors and hit .080 in the contest. Shelby Mullins led the team with eight kills.

Sarah Goddard and Grace Lilly led all players with 10 kills apiece while Jordan Schmucker hit .750 on the day, racking up six kills with no errors. Jana Cuk added nine kills followed by Kelly Jakaitis' eight.

Notable Performers

YHC

Kills - Shelby Mullins (8), Jessica Beckner & Chase Vaigneur (4)

Digs - Joha Bernis (20)

Assists - Annie Messler (10), Alex Boydstone (6)

Blocks - Jessica Beckner & Sophie Bearden (1 BA)

MHU

Kills - Sarah Goddard & Grace Lilly (10), Jana Cuk (9)

Digs - Jordan Schmucker (12), Ully Martins (11)

Assists - Jordan Schmucker (28), Ully Martins (6)

Blocks - Kelly Jakaitis, Jana Cuk, Nikkayla Stewart & Jordan Schmucker (1 BA)

GAME TWO: MHU 3, KU 0

Mars Hill capped off the day with another dominating performance, taking down host King (25-20, 25-21, 25-11).

The trio of Sarah Goddard, Jana Cuk, and Grace Lilly carried the offense with Goddard recording a team-high 13 kills followed by Cuk and Lilly's 11 apiece. Nikkayla Stewart knocked down a career-high seven kills and hit a game-best .462.

Hailee Blankenship was responsible for 14 of King's 21 kills in the game, hitting a team-high .333. The Tornado committed 17 attack errors and ended the night with a .044 hitting percentage.

Notable Performers

Kills - Hailee Blankenship (14), Abigale Jayne (4)

Digs - Claire Wilson (18), Hailee Blankenship & Katie Harless (10)

Assists - Katie Harless (12), Georgia Davis (10)

Blocks - Abigail Belcher (4 BA), Georgia Davis (3 BA)

MHU

Kills - Sarah Goddard (13), Jana Cuk & Grace Lilly (11)

Digs - Grace Lilly & Ully Martins (16), Sarah Goddard (13)

Assists - Jordan Schmucker (39), Ully Martins (3)

Blocks - Jana Cuk (1 BS, 3 BA), Jordan Schmucker (1 BS, 1 BA), Kelly Jakaitis & Nikkayla Stewart (2 BA)

The Lions return to the court on Saturday, September 11 when they take on Lees-McRae at 2:30 p.m. and close out the King University Tournament at 7:30 p.m. when they face Emory & Henry.