
Mars Hill defeats Catawba in home, SAC opener in straight sets
The Mars Hill volleyball team (2-2, 1-0 SAC) defeated the visiting Catawba Indians (0-1, 0-1 SAC) in straight sets Friday evening to earn their first home and South Atlantic Conference victory of the 2019 campaign inside Chambers Gymnasium.
MARS HILL, N.C. - The Mars Hill volleyball team (2-2, 1-0 SAC) defeated the visiting Catawba Indians (0-1, 0-1 SAC) in straight sets Friday evening to earn their first home and South Atlantic Conference victory of the 2019 campaign inside Chambers Gymnasium.
The Lions hit over 60 percent in the frame, recording 13 kills on 40 attempts. Grace Lilly led the way with five kills in the first set, followed by Sarah Goddard's three. Catawba's Allie Grubbs led the Indians with four in the opening stanza, hitting a set-high .571.
Mars Hill found themselves trailing early in the second set, however, 7-0 run late in the frame off of the serve of Sally Anne Johnson put the Lions up 20-18. The teams traded points back and forth until a 3-0 run, that included two Indians' attack errors, allowed the Lions to go up 2-0 heading into the third set. Lauren Phillips paced the Lions' offense with four kills in the frame.
The Lions sealed the victory by ending the game on a 3-0 run, capped off by Phillips' seventh kill of the evening, giving Mars Hill their first conference win of the 2019 season.
Lilly led all players with 11 kills, followed by eight kill efforts by Goddard and Sally Anne Johnson. Jordan Schmucker had 18 assists followed by Sara Pasour's 17, while Ully Martins led all players with 20 digs.
Mars Hill returns to action on Saturday, September 14 versus Queens inside Chambers Gymnasium. First serve is scheduled for 5 p.m.