Mars Hill's historic season comes to an end at NCAA Tournament
The Mars Hill volleyball team (21-13) was defeated in four sets (16-25, 18-25, 29-27, 24-26) versus Anderson (23-7) Thursday night in the NCAA Southeast Regional Quarterfinals.
ANDERSON, S.C. - The Mars Hill volleyball team (21-13) was defeated in four sets (16-25, 18-25, 29-27, 24-26) versus Anderson (23-7) Thursday night in the NCAA Southeast Regional Quarterfinals.
The match marked the Lions' first time in the NCAA Tournament.
The Trojans jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the match following convincing performances in the first set, hitting .294 and a game-high .304, respectively.
In a back-and-forth third set, the Lions outlasted Anderson, 29-27, knocking down 15 kills. The Trojans, despite their game-high 23 kills in the frame, committed 11 attack errors. A block by Sarah Goddard and Jana Cuk forced the fourth set.
Mars Hill trailed 23-21 in the fourth and rallied to score two straight to tie it up with kills from Eriana Ansley and Grace Lilly. Fending off their first set point, another kill by Lilly forced extra points to be played. Anderson capped off the win with back-to-back points.
Goddard and Noelle Knutsen led their respective teams with 17 kills while Ully Martins and Madison Roy led their teams with 27 digs. Roy added 64 assists while Jordan Schmucker collected 38 on the night.
Mars Hill wraps up the 2021 season with 21 wins, the most since 1998.
Notable Performers
AU
- Kills - Noelle Knutsen (17), Tabitha Wheeler (14)
- Digs - Madison Roy (27), Meghan DeVaux & Lindsay McCurley (21)
- Assists - Madison Roy (64)
- Blocks - Noelle Knutsen (1 BS, 2 BA), Madison Roy & Tabitha Wheeler (1 BA)
MHU
- Kills - Sarah Goddard (17), Grace Lilly (12)
- Digs - Ully Martins (27), Jordan Schmucker (15)
- Assists - Jordan Schmucker (38), Ully Martins (3)
- Blocks - Jana Cuk (6 BA), Nikkayla Stewart (1 BS, 2 BA)
